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Plasmonic photocatalysis is an emerging research field that holds promise for sustainable energy applications, particularly in solar energy conversion. In this study, we focus on the enhancement of broadband light absorption capabilities for plasmonic photocatalyst under white light illumination. By replacing parts of the catalyst with solar absorber, we can significantly improve the total reaction rate under mild heating conditions with less catalyst. Through careful comparison of reaction conditions and systematic optimization of the contributions from photothermal and non-thermal effects, we demonstrate a substantial enhancement in broadband light absorption capacity and overall light effectiveness, paving the way for advanced plasmonic photocatalysts with greater efficiency and practical applicability using solar light as the energy source.
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Achieving maximum overall light enhancement in plasmonic catalysis by combining thermal and non-thermal effects
Plasmonic photocatalysis presents a promising method for light-to-matter conversion. However, most current studies focused on understanding the relative importance of thermal and nonthermal effects while their synergistic effects remained less studied. Here, we propose an index, termed Overall Light Effectiveness (OLE), to capture the combined impact of these light effects on reactions. By systematically varying the thickness of catalyst layers, we isolated thermal and nonthermal contributions and optimized them to achieve maximum light enhancement. We demonstrate the approach using carbon dioxide hydrogenation reaction on titania-supported rhodium nanoparticles as a model reaction system. It shows a generalizable potential in designing catalyst systems with optimum combinations of heating and light illumination, especially with broadband light illumination such as sunlight, for achieving the most economical light-to-matter conversion in plasmonic catalysis.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1954838
- PAR ID:
- 10512299
- Publisher / Repository:
- Nature
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Nature Catalysis
- Volume:
- 6
- Issue:
- 12
- ISSN:
- 2520-1158
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1241 to 1247
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-023-01045-9
