Nanoparticle photochemistry via nano-impacts

Abstract

We report the use of nano-impacts as a novel method for the study of photochemical reactions of individual nanoparticles (NPs). The conversion of gelatine stabilised silver bromide (AgBr) NPs to silver (Ag) NPs through photochemical reduction by ascorbic acid is studied mechanistically. Two mechanisms are proposed and investigated by monitoring the amount of electrochemically accessible AgBr against the time scale of conversion, measured through the use of the nano-impacts technique.

Electrochemistry of single molecules and biomolecules, molecular scale nanostructures, and low-dimensional systems

“…Molecular scale inorganic particles display single-ET charging in voltammetry 6 and in situ tunneling spectroscopy (STS) 7 . Ionic liquid media are, further gaining importance, 1,8,9 and "nanoimpacts" 10 "hot" electrons and quantum dots 11 , non-Gaussian solvent configurational fluctuations 11 , and electronic spill-over 13,14 are still other electrochemical single-entity phenomena. New electrode materials and electrode configurations are finally prominent in developing nanoelectrochemistry, with 2D and 3D graphene and graphene/NP hybrid materials 15,16 , core-shell 17,18 and Janus-like NPs 19 , 1D single carbon nanotubes 20 , and nanoporous electrodes 21,22 as examples.…”

Tracking of photochemical Ostwald ripening of nanoparticles through voltammetric atom counting

“…This technique has also been shown to provide sizing and aspect ratios of nano-rods 4 and track NP reactions. 5 In the following, the nano-impact technique is applied to the study of NP synthesis to provide critical atom count information and new mechanistic insights.…”

Physicochemical Aspects of Metal Nanoparticle Preparation

“…Direct photochemical reduction is possible for some photosensitive materials (e.g., silver halogenides). Free electrons are generated by absorption of photons by these substances, and therefore direct reduction of the metal ions from crystal lattice can proceed in this way [112]. However, in this special case, it is necessary to highlight that the ions are not reduced directly from the solution because the photosensitive Engineered Nanomaterials -Health and Safety 6 compounds have limited solubility.…”