title: Luminescence studies of individual quantum dot photocatalysts.
abstract: Using far-field optical microscopy we report the first measurements of photoluminescence from single nanoparticle photocatalysts. Fluence-dependent luminescence is investigated from metal-semiconductor heterojunction quantum dot catalysts exposed to a variety of environments, ranging from gaseous argon to liquid water containing a selection of hole scavengers. The catalysts each exhibit characteristic nonlinear fluence dependence. From these structurally and environmentally sensitive trends, we disentangle the separate rate-determining steps in each particle across the very wide range of time scales, which follow the initial light absorption process. This information will significantly benefit the design of effective artificial photocatalytic systems for renewable direct solar-to-fuel energy conversion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.
authors.forename: Lilac
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amirav
authors.forename: A Paul
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Alivisatos
mesh_terms: D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D049449:Luminescence; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D045663:Quantum Dots; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D012666:Semiconductors; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; C034939:cadmium sulfide; C058667:cadmium selenide