HYBRID METAL-SEMICONDUCTOR NANOPARTICLES AND METHODS FOR PHOTO-INDUCING CHARGE SEPARATION AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF
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Abstract
The development and use of hybrid metal-semiconductor nanoparticles for photocatalysis of a variety of chemical reactions such as redox reactions and water-splitting, is provided.
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Citations
92 Claims
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1-67. -67. (canceled)
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68. A method of photo-inducing charge separation and transfer of a charge carrier to a charge acceptor, the method comprising:
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providing at least one nanoparticle comprising at least one metal/metal alloy region and at least one semiconductor region, having an absorption onset in the visible (400-700 nm) to near infrared (NIR) range (0.7-3 μ
m);contacting the at least one nanoparticle with at least one electron acceptor and at least one electron donor in a medium selected from a liquid medium, a gel, or a solid medium, wherein a plurality of the at least one nanoparticles is freely-distributed in the medium; and optionally, irradiating the medium containing the at least one nanoparticle, at least one electron acceptor and at least one electron donor with radiation in the visible and/or near IR range and optionally UV range; thereby allowing formation of an electron-hole pair in the metal/semiconductor interface of the at least one nanoparticle and subsequent charge separation and transfer of the electron and hole to the at least one electron acceptor and the at least one electron donor, respectively, the at least one nanoparticle having an elongated shape, a rod-like shape, an elliptical shape, a pyramidal shape or a disk-like shape. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87)
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88. A method for reducing at least one first organic or inorganic compound, and/or oxidizing at least one second organic or inorganic compound, the method comprising:
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providing at least one nanoparticle comprising at least one metal/metal alloy region and at least one semiconductor region; contacting the at least one nanoparticle with the at least one first organic or inorganic compound being an electron acceptor and at least one second organic or inorganic compound being an electron donor in a medium; and optionally, irradiating the medium with radiation in the visible and/or near IR range and optionally UV range; thereby allowing reduction of the at least one first organic or inorganic compound and/or oxidation of the at least one second organic or inorganic compound, the at least one nanoparticles having an elongated shape, a rod-like shape, an elliptical shape, a pyramidal shape or a disk-like shape.
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- 89. A method for the photocatalytic production of hydrogen, the method comprising irradiating an aqueous medium comprising at least one nanoparticle having at least one metal/metal alloy region and at least one semiconductor region and a shape selected from an elongated shape, a rod-like shape, an elliptical shape, a pyramidal shape and a disk-like shape, with light in the visible and/or near IR range and optionally UV range to obtain hydrogen following water splitting.
Specification