Novel Bi-functional Materials from Earth-Abundant Plasmonic Structures for Light-driven Applications

任何可持续战略的最终目标都是通过有效收集和储存可再生能源（如太阳能）来取代化石燃料。纳米光电学领域的最新进展表明，这个梦想可能是可能的：光响应材料可以吸收阳光并将其转化为其他能量形式（化学，热等）。这要归功于对等离子体共振现象的利用。然而，这种技术的实现目前受到基本材料特性的挑战。常见的光增强等离子体金属Ag和Au是昂贵且无竞争力的催化剂;大多数传统催化剂（Pd、Pt、氧化物）不能维持强LSPR;因此，既不能吸引光的能量也不能集中光的能量。该项目提出了一种多管齐下的方法来实现可持续的双功能纳米颗粒。它代表了从昂贵和稀有的等离子体材料到地球丰富的镁的重要转变，能够吸收可见光（太阳光）。该项目使用创新的反应工程原理来整合等离子体核心和催化位点，从而实现清洁，无表面活性剂的表面以及多步无空气合成。这种独特的组合承诺密切的固体/固体相互作用，不可能实现与目前的合成方法，这将充分表征其基本的光物质相互作用行为以及它们的催化性能。

The ultimate goal of any sustainable strategy is to replace fossil fuels by efficient harvesting and storage of renewable (e.g. solar) energy. Recent developments in the field of nanoscale optoelectectronics suggest that this dream might be possible: light-responsive materials can absorb sunlight and convert it into other energy forms (chemical, thermal, etc.) thanks to the exploitation of the plasmonic resonance phenomena. The realization of this technology is, however, currently challenged by fundamental material properties. Common light-enhancing, plasmonic metals Ag and Au are expensive and uncompetitive catalysts; most traditional catalysts (Pd, Pt, oxides) cannot sustain strong LSPRs; consequently, neither attract and concentrate light's energy. This project presents a multi-pronged approach to achieve sustainable bi-functional nanoparticles. It represents an important move away from expensive and rare plasmonic materials to Earth-abundant Mg, capable of absorbing visible (solar)light. This project uses innovative reaction engineering principles for the integration of plasmonic cores and catalytic sites that enable clean, surfactant-free surfaces as well as multi-step air-free syntheses. This unique combination promises intimate solid/solid interactions, impossible to achieve with current synthetic methods, that will be fully characterized for both their fundamental light-matter interaction behaviour as well as their catalytic properties.