Mechanistic Insights into Photochemical Nanoparticle Synthesis: Nucleation and Growth

Photochemical deposition is a process where photons interact with matter, inducing electronic transitions that drive redox reactions, resulting in material deposition on a substrate. In the context of nanoparticle synthesis, a semiconductor slurry containing a metal salt precursor is irradiated, generating electron-hole pairs. These charge carriers facilitate the reduction of metal ions to their elemental form or the oxidation of the metal ion to form metal oxide species, resulting in the nucleation and growth of nanoparticles on the semiconductor surface. This technique offers precise control over nanoparticle size, distribution, and composition. Pioneered by Clark and Vondjidis in 1965, the field gained significant momentum with Kraeutler and Bard’s 1978 demonstration of platinum deposition on titanium dioxide. By deftly adjusting light, precursor concentration, and electron supply, researchers have leveraged photodeposition to create a vast array of nanomaterials with transformative applications in catalysis, electronics, and energy. This seminar offers an in-depth examination of the mechanisms driving this field, the methodologies used to explore it, and the forefront of current research.

 

 

Reference:

  1. Wenderich, Kasper, and Guido Mul. “Methods, mechanism, and applications of photodeposition in photocatalysis: a review.” Chemical reviews23 (2016): 14587-14619.