A Novel Self-Assembly Strategy for the Fabrication of Nano-Hybrid Satellite Materials with Plasmonically Enhanced Catalytic Activity

The generation of hydrogen from water using light is currently one of the most promising alternative energy sources for humankind but faces significant barriers for large-scale applications due to the low efficiency of existing photo-catalysts. In this work we propose a new route to fabricate nano-h...

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Main Authors:	Gareth Morris, Ioritz Sorzabal-Bellido, Matthew Bilton, Karl Dawson, Fiona McBride, Rasmita Raval, Frank Jäckel, Yuri A. Diaz Fernandez
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	MDPI AG 2021-06-01
Series:	Nanomaterials
Subjects:	plasmonic material plasmon enhanced catalysis silver nanoparticles quantum dots water splitting hydrogen generation
Online Access:	https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/6/1580

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spelling	doaj-0c3d27334d3c4906a0b79db3017316c12021-07-01T00:17:58ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912021-06-01111580158010.3390/nano11061580A Novel Self-Assembly Strategy for the Fabrication of Nano-Hybrid Satellite Materials with Plasmonically Enhanced Catalytic ActivityGareth Morris0Ioritz Sorzabal-Bellido1Matthew Bilton2Karl Dawson3Fiona McBride4Rasmita Raval5Frank Jäckel6Yuri A. Diaz Fernandez7Surface Science Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKSurface Science Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKAlbert Crewe Centre for Electron Microscopy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKDepartment of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKSurface Science Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKSurface Science Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKStephenson Institute of Renewable Energy and Department of Physics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKSurface Science Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UKThe generation of hydrogen from water using light is currently one of the most promising alternative energy sources for humankind but faces significant barriers for large-scale applications due to the low efficiency of existing photo-catalysts. In this work we propose a new route to fabricate nano-hybrid materials able to deliver enhanced photo-catalytic hydrogen evolution, combining within the same nanostructure, a plasmonic antenna nanoparticle and semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). For each stage of our fabrication process we probed the chemical composition of the materials with nanometric spatial resolution, allowing us to demonstrate that the final product is composed of a silver nanoparticle (AgNP) plasmonic core, surrounded by satellite Pt decorated CdS QDs (CdS@Pt), separated by a spacer layer of SiO<sub>2</sub> with well-controlled thickness. This new type of photoactive nanomaterial is capable of generating hydrogen when irradiated with visible light, displaying efficiencies 300% higher than the constituting photo-active components. This work may open new avenues for the development of cleaner and more efficient energy sources based on photo-activated hydrogen generation.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/6/1580plasmonic materialplasmon enhanced catalysissilver nanoparticlesquantum dotswater splittinghydrogen generation
collection	DOAJ
language	English
format	Article
sources	DOAJ
author	Gareth Morris Ioritz Sorzabal-Bellido Matthew Bilton Karl Dawson Fiona McBride Rasmita Raval Frank Jäckel Yuri A. Diaz Fernandez
spellingShingle	Gareth Morris Ioritz Sorzabal-Bellido Matthew Bilton Karl Dawson Fiona McBride Rasmita Raval Frank Jäckel Yuri A. Diaz Fernandez A Novel Self-Assembly Strategy for the Fabrication of Nano-Hybrid Satellite Materials with Plasmonically Enhanced Catalytic Activity Nanomaterials plasmonic material plasmon enhanced catalysis silver nanoparticles quantum dots water splitting hydrogen generation
author_facet	Gareth Morris Ioritz Sorzabal-Bellido Matthew Bilton Karl Dawson Fiona McBride Rasmita Raval Frank Jäckel Yuri A. Diaz Fernandez
author_sort	Gareth Morris
title	A Novel Self-Assembly Strategy for the Fabrication of Nano-Hybrid Satellite Materials with Plasmonically Enhanced Catalytic Activity
title_short	A Novel Self-Assembly Strategy for the Fabrication of Nano-Hybrid Satellite Materials with Plasmonically Enhanced Catalytic Activity
title_full	A Novel Self-Assembly Strategy for the Fabrication of Nano-Hybrid Satellite Materials with Plasmonically Enhanced Catalytic Activity
title_fullStr	A Novel Self-Assembly Strategy for the Fabrication of Nano-Hybrid Satellite Materials with Plasmonically Enhanced Catalytic Activity
title_full_unstemmed	A Novel Self-Assembly Strategy for the Fabrication of Nano-Hybrid Satellite Materials with Plasmonically Enhanced Catalytic Activity
title_sort	novel self-assembly strategy for the fabrication of nano-hybrid satellite materials with plasmonically enhanced catalytic activity
publisher	MDPI AG
series	Nanomaterials
issn	2079-4991
publishDate	2021-06-01
description	The generation of hydrogen from water using light is currently one of the most promising alternative energy sources for humankind but faces significant barriers for large-scale applications due to the low efficiency of existing photo-catalysts. In this work we propose a new route to fabricate nano-hybrid materials able to deliver enhanced photo-catalytic hydrogen evolution, combining within the same nanostructure, a plasmonic antenna nanoparticle and semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). For each stage of our fabrication process we probed the chemical composition of the materials with nanometric spatial resolution, allowing us to demonstrate that the final product is composed of a silver nanoparticle (AgNP) plasmonic core, surrounded by satellite Pt decorated CdS QDs (CdS@Pt), separated by a spacer layer of SiO<sub>2</sub> with well-controlled thickness. This new type of photoactive nanomaterial is capable of generating hydrogen when irradiated with visible light, displaying efficiencies 300% higher than the constituting photo-active components. This work may open new avenues for the development of cleaner and more efficient energy sources based on photo-activated hydrogen generation.
topic	plasmonic material plasmon enhanced catalysis silver nanoparticles quantum dots water splitting hydrogen generation
url	https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/6/1580
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A Novel Self-Assembly Strategy for the Fabrication of Nano-Hybrid Satellite Materials with Plasmonically Enhanced Catalytic Activity

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