Work

Nanoscale Imaging of Palladium-Enhanced Photocatalytic Reduction of 4-Nitrothiophenol on Tungsten Disulfide Nanoplates

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Two-dimensional (2D) dichalcogenides are modern nanomaterials with unique physical and chemical properties. These materials possess band gaps in the infrared and visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be tuned by their molecular composition. Excitons generated as a result of such light-matter interactions are capable of catalyzing chemical reactions in molecular analytes present on the dichalcogenide surfaces. However, the photocatalytic properties of such nanomaterials remain poorly understood. In the current study, we utilize tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) to examine photocatalytic reduction of 4-nitrothiophenol (4-NTP) to p,p ′-dimercaptoazobisbenzene (DMAB) on tungsten disulfide (WS 2 ) nanoplates and WS 2 coupled with palladium nanoparticles (WS 2 @PdNPs). Our results indicate that although both WS 2 and WS 2 @Pd were capable of reducing 4-NTP into DMAB, the metallic hybrid demonstrated much greater yield and rates of DMAB formation compared to WS 2 nanoplate. These results indicate that coupling of catalytic metals to dichalcogenides could be used to enhance their catalytic properties.

Source: Nano Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03702

Authors: Swati J. Patil, Dmitry Kurouski

Institution: Texas A&M University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funder: West Texas A and M University