Light Sparks for Plasmonic Catalysis: Colloidal-Based Cavities as Molecular Magnifying Glasses for Reactions on Pd

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Catalysis is a truly nanoscale processes-understanding underlying mechanisms is key for the future development of (photo)catalysts. The recent push towards structuring catalysts, down to the atomic-scale, aims for vital economic and ecological goals. Incorporating plasmonic nanoparticles into catalysis is a vivid field of research, as the light confinement can dictate reaction paths, rates, and selectivity at modest conditions. In the FLATCat Plasmon project, I will develop bimetallic atomic optical cavities based on plasmonics to fundamentally study their underlying physics and exploit their properties in photocatalysis. Robust palladium/gold nanocavities will be achieved over large areas by combining ligand-free deposition of 2D atomic flatland materials using underpotential electrochemical deposition, with highly-defined, bottom-up self-assembly of molecules and plasmonic nanoparticles. I aim to use the extreme confinement of light inside these (sub)nanoscopic cavities for fast Raman vibrational scattering as molecular magnifying glasses to temporally study chemical reactions enhanced by plasmonic photocatalysis at the level of individual atoms. Achieving this will strongly enable a more systematic development of plasmonic catalysts at the true nanoscale. I plan to realize the proposed project in the lab of Prof Jeremy Baumberg at the University of Cambridge. His interdisciplinary group has been at the forefront of research in nanophotonics and, in particular, has been pioneering the use of plasmonic cavities in physics and chemistry. Therefore, it is the ideal and unique location to realise this project. I will learn synthesis of advanced nanoparticles, the precise positioning of atomic palladium and the time- and spatially resolved nanocharacterization required to follow catalysis at the atomic scale. The project will allow me gain the experience, research and leadership skills, as well as a robust international network that are needed to succeed independently.