Researchers at tifr have developed the solution phase synthesis of dendritic plasmonic colloidosomes (DPCS) with varying interpartile distances between the gold nanoparticles (NPS) Using a cycle-by-cycle Growth Approach by Optimizing the Nucleation-Growth Step. These Dpcs Absorbed the Entire Visible and Near-Infrared Région of Solar Light, due to Interparticle Plasmonic Coupling as well as the heterogeneity in the np sizes, which transformed Gold Material to Black Gold.
Black (nano) Gold was able to catalyze co2 to methane (fuel) at atmospheric press and temperature, using solar energy. Researchers also observed the significant effect of the plasmonic hotspots on the performance of these dpcs for the purification of seawater to drinkable water via steam generation, temperature judmp assisted protein unfolding, oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol using pure oxygen as the oxidant, and hydrosilylation of aldehydes.
The results we awarded to varying interpartic distances and party sizes in these dpcs. Results Indicates the Synergistic Effects of Em and Thermal Hotspots as well as hot electrons on dpcs performance. Thus, DPC Catalysts Can Effectively be used as vis-ir light photo-catalysts, and the design of new plasmonic nanocatalysts for a wide rage of other chemical reactions may be possible using the concept of plasmonic coupling.
Raman Thermometry and Sers (Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) Provided Information about the Thermal and Electromagnetic Hotots and Local Temperatures Which was found to be there on the interpreticle plasmonic coupling. The Spatial Distribution of the Localized Surface Plasmon Modes By Stem-Eels Plasmon Mapping Confirmed the Role of the Interparticle Distances in the SPR (Surface Plasmon Resonance) of the Material.
Thus, in this work, by using the Techniques of Nanotechnology, The Researchers Transformed Metallic Gold to Black Gold, by Changing the size and gaps between gold nanoparticles. Similar to trees, which use co2, sunlight and water to produce food, the development black gold acts like artificial tree that used co2, sunlight and water to produce fuel, which can be to run our cars. Notely, black gold can also be used to convert sea water into drinkable water using the heat that black gold generates after it captures.
This work is a way forward to develop 'artificial trees' to capture and convert co2 to fuel and use chemicals. Although at this internship, the production rate of fuel is low, in coming years, these challenges can be resolded. We may be able to convert co2 to fuel using sunlight at atmospheric condition, at a commercially viable scale and co2 may then become our hand source of clean energy.