Expanding the activity of wide bandgap semiconductors from the UV into the visible range has become a central goal for their application in green solar photocatalysis. The hybrid plasmonic/semiconductor system, based on silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) embedded in a film of CeO2, is an example of a functional material developed with this aim. In this work, we take advantage of the chemical sensitivity of free electron laser (FEL) time-resolved soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (TRXAS) to investigate the electron transfer process from the Ag NPs to the CeO2 film generated by the NPs plasmonic resonance photoexcitation. Ultrafast changes (<200 fs) of the Ce N4,5 absorption edge allowed us to conclude that the excited Ag NPs transfer electrons to the Ce atoms of the CeO2 film through a highly efficient electron-based mechanism. These results demonstrate the potential of FEL-based TRXAS measurements for the characterization of energy transfer in novel hybrid plasmonic/semiconductor materials.

Cresi J.S.P., Principi E., Spurio E., Catone D., O'Keeffe P., Turchini S., et al. (2021). Ultrafast dynamics of plasmon-mediated charge transfer in Ag@CeO2 studied by free electron laser time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy. NANO LETTERS, 21(4), 1729-1734 [10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04547].

Ultrafast dynamics of plasmon-mediated charge transfer in Ag@CeO2 studied by free electron laser time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy

Boscherini F.;
2021

Abstract

Expanding the activity of wide bandgap semiconductors from the UV into the visible range has become a central goal for their application in green solar photocatalysis. The hybrid plasmonic/semiconductor system, based on silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) embedded in a film of CeO2, is an example of a functional material developed with this aim. In this work, we take advantage of the chemical sensitivity of free electron laser (FEL) time-resolved soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (TRXAS) to investigate the electron transfer process from the Ag NPs to the CeO2 film generated by the NPs plasmonic resonance photoexcitation. Ultrafast changes (<200 fs) of the Ce N4,5 absorption edge allowed us to conclude that the excited Ag NPs transfer electrons to the Ce atoms of the CeO2 film through a highly efficient electron-based mechanism. These results demonstrate the potential of FEL-based TRXAS measurements for the characterization of energy transfer in novel hybrid plasmonic/semiconductor materials.
2021
Cresi J.S.P., Principi E., Spurio E., Catone D., O'Keeffe P., Turchini S., et al. (2021). Ultrafast dynamics of plasmon-mediated charge transfer in Ag@CeO2 studied by free electron laser time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy. NANO LETTERS, 21(4), 1729-1734 [10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04547].
Cresi J.S.P.; Principi E.; Spurio E.; Catone D.; O'Keeffe P.; Turchini S.; Benedetti S.; Vikatakavi A.; D'Addato S.; Mincigrucci R.; Foglia L.; Kurdi ...espandi
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
acs.nanolett.0c04547.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipo: Versione (PDF) editoriale
Licenza: Licenza per Accesso Aperto. Creative Commons Attribuzione (CCBY)
Dimensione 2.94 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
2.94 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/849698
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 5
  • Scopus 18
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 20
social impact