Atomically Conformal Metal Laminations on Plasmonic Nanocrystals for Efficient Catalysis
Anubhab Acharya, Sateesh Dubbu, Sumit Kumar, Nitee Kumari, Yeseul Kim, Sunae So, Taewan Kwon, Zhipeng Wang, Junbeom Park, Yoon‐Kyoung Cho, Junsuk Rho, Sang Ho Oh, Amit Kumar, In Su Lee
Abstract
Despite the enormous application potential, methods for conformal few-atomic-layer deposition on colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) are scarce. Similar to the process of lamination, we introduce a "confine and shine" strategy to homogeneously modify the different surface curvatures of plasmonic NCs with ultrathin conformal layers of diverse catalytic noble metals. This self-limited epitaxial skinlike metal growth harvests the localized surface plasmon resonance to induce reduction chemistry directly on the NC surface, confined inside hollow silica. This strategy avoids any kinetic anisotropic metal deposition. Unlike the conventional thick, anisotropic, and dendritic shells, which show severe nonradiative damping, the skinlike metal lamination preserves the key plasmonic properties of the core NCs. Consequently, the plasmonic-catalytic hybrid nanoreactors can carry out a variety of organic reactions with impressive rates.