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Direct observation of chemical reactions on single gold nanocrystals using surface plasmon spectroscopy

Nature Nanotechnology volume 3, pages 598–602 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Heterogeneous catalysts have been pivotal to the development of the modern chemical industry and are essential for catalysing many industrial reactions. However, reaction rates are different for every individual catalyst particle and depend upon each particle's morphology and size1, crystal structure2 and composition3,4,5,6,7. Measuring the rates of reaction on single nanocrystals will enable the role of catalyst structure to be quantified. Here, using surface plasmon spectroscopy, we have directly observed the kinetics of atomic deposition onto a single gold nanocrystal and also monitored electron injection and extraction during a redox reaction involving the oxidation of ascorbic acid on a gold nanocrystal surface. These results constitute the first direct measurement of the rates of redox catalysis on single nanocrystals.

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Figure 1: DFM images of gold nanocrystals of different shapes.
Figure 2: Gold-catalysed oxidation of ascorbic acid.
Figure 3: Growth of a single gold nanorod.

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Acknowledgements

C.N. thanks the University of Melbourne for MIRS and MIFRS postgraduate scholarships and P.M. thanks the ARC for support through FF 0561456. We acknowledge I. Pastoriza-Santos for the gold pentagon samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry & Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Vic, Australia

    Carolina Novo, Alison M. Funston & Paul Mulvaney

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  1. Carolina Novo
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  2. Alison M. Funston
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  3. Paul Mulvaney
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Contributions

C.N. performed the experiments and analysed the data together with P.M. and A.M.F. A.M.F. provided help with the optics. All authors discussed the results and co-wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Paul Mulvaney.

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Novo, C., Funston, A. & Mulvaney, P. Direct observation of chemical reactions on single gold nanocrystals using surface plasmon spectroscopy. Nature Nanotech 3, 598–602 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2008.246

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