Gold-Rhodium Nanoflowers for the Plasmon-Enhanced CO2 Electroreduction Reaction upon Visible Light

Author(s)

Rodrigues, Maria P. S. ; Dourado, Andre H. B. ; Sampaio de Oliveira-Filho, Antonio G. ; de Lima Batista, Ana P. ; Feil, Moritz ; Krischer, Katharina ; Cordoba de Torresi, Susana, I

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACS CATALYSIS; v. 13, n. 1, p. 13-pg., 2023-01-06.

Abstract

Bimetallic nanostructures combining catalytic and plasmonic properties are a class of materials that might possess improved efficiency and/or selectivity in electrocatalytic reactions. In this paper, we described the application of gold-rhodium core-shell nanoflowers (Au@Rh NFs) as a model system for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction. The nanoparticles consist of a gold nucleus surrounded by rhodium branches, combining Au localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the visible range of the spectrum and Rh catalytic properties. The influence of LSPR excitation on the catalytic properties was evaluated for different excitation wavelengths and various Au@Rh NF metallic ratios. Our catalysts showed enhanced activity upon LSPR excitation, demonstrating that LSPR excitation may lead to improved performance even with a low content of metallic NFs (2% Au + Rh in Carbon Vulcan). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments performed under LSPR excitation suggest that the superior activity under illumination is related to lower energetic barriers that facilitate the desorption of adsorbed species compared to dark conditions.L (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/00675-4 - Tying up materials for electrochemical energy storage and catalysis
• Grantee: Roberto Manuel Torresi
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/16846-0 - Metal oxide nanowires decorated with gold nanoparticles for heterogeneous catalysis application
• Grantee: Maria Paula de Souza Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 15/26308-7 - Optimization of the physicochemical properties of nano -structured materials for applications in molecular recognition, catalysis and energy conversion/storage
• Grantee: Roberto Manuel Torresi
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/22505-3 - Investigation of plasmon enhanced ethanol electro-oxidation by AuRh catalyst: in situ and theoretical studies
• Grantee: Maria Paula de Souza Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)