Super-Resolution Mapping of a Chemical Reaction Driven by Plasmonic Near-Fields

Ruben F. Hamans, Matteo Parente, Andrea Baldi*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Plasmonic nanoparticles have recently emerged as promising photocatalysts for light-driven chemical conversions. Their illumination results in the generation of highly energetic charge carriers, elevated surface temperatures, and enhanced electromagnetic fields. Distinguishing between these often-overlapping processes is of paramount importance for the rational design of future plasmonic photocatalysts. However, the study of plasmon-driven chemical reactions is typically performed at the ensemble level and, therefore, is limited by the intrinsic heterogeneity of the catalysts. Here, we report an in situ single-particle study of a fluorogenic chemical reaction driven solely by plasmonic near-fields. Using super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, we map the position of individual product molecules with an ∼30 nm spatial resolution and demonstrate a clear correlation between the electric field distribution around individual nanoparticles and their super-resolved catalytic activity maps. Our results can be extended to systems with more complex electric field distributions, thereby guiding the design of future advanced photocatalysts.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2149-2155
Number of pages7
JournalNano Letters
Volume21
Issue number5
Early online date19 Feb 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Mar 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.

Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • fluorogenic reactions
  • near-fields
  • photochemistry
  • plasmonics
  • super-resolution microscopy

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