NANO.IL.

Metal Type Governs Photocatalytic Reactive Oxygen Species Formation by Semiconductor-Metal Hybrid Nanoparticles

david Stone The Institute of Chemistry, The Harvey M. Kreuger Family Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

Semiconductor-metal hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) are considered promising candidates for photocatalysis. The HNPs hold unique synergistic property of charge separation across the semiconductor-metal nano-junction following light absorption. This allows efficient charge transfer from the semiconductor component to the metal domain and further redox reactions by the charge carriers, electron and hole, including water reduction for hydrogen generation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation.

Herein we study the effect of the metal co-catalyst type and its size on the light-induced ROS formation at aerobic environment. Au and Pt metal tips were grown on the CdS nanorods (NRs), and various methods were used for the assessment of the photocatalytic production of H2O2, •OH, •O2- and H2 by the samples. A better photocatalytic activity was observed for H2O2 and •OH radical formation on the CdS-Au than the CdS-Pt HNPs, but the opposite trend was observed for H2 formation. Additionally, •O2- formation efficiency is not affected by the metal tip in the timescale of the experiment. These understandings are necessary for future utilization and optimization of these hybrid nanosystems as photocatalysts in various radical-driven applications, such as biological, medical and photopolymerization.









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