Hot‐Electron Photodynamics in Silver‐Containing BEA‐Type Nanozeolite Studied by Femtosecond Transient Absorption Spectroscopy. Issue 24 (23rd November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kawtharani, Farah; Mintova, Svetlana; Retoux, Richard; Mostafavi, Mehran; Buntinx, Guy; De Waele, Vincent
• Is Part Of: Chemphyschem. Volume 21:Issue 24(2020)
• Page Start: 2634
• Page End: 2643
• Publication Date: 2020-11-23
• Subjects: hot electron -- plasmonic -- pump-probe spectroscopy -- silver nanoparticle -- zeolite; Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; 541.05
• DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202000822
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1439-4235

Abstract

Abstract: Silver cations were introduced in nanosized BEA‐type zeolite containing organic template by ion‐exchange followed by chemical reduction towards preparation of photoactive materials (Ag 0 ‐BEA). The stabilization of highly dispersed Ag 0 nanoparticles with a size of 1–2 nm in the BEA zeolite was revealed. The transient optical response of the Ag‐BEA samples upon photoexcitation at 400 nm was studied by femtosecond absorption. The photodynamic of the hot electrons was found to depend on the sample preparation. The lifetime of the hot electrons in the Ag−BEA samples containing small Ag nanoparticles (1–2 nm) is significantly shortened in comparison to bear Ag nanoparticles with a size of 10 nm. While for the larger Ag nanoparticles, the energy absorbed in the conduction band is decaying by electron‐phonon coupling into the metal lattice, the high surface‐to‐volume ratio of the small Ag nanoparticles favors the dissipation of the energy of the hot electrons from the metal nanoparticles (Ag 0 ) towards the zeolitic micro‐environment. This finding is encouraging for further applications of Ag‐containing zeolites in photocatalysis and plasmonic chemistry. Abstract : Silver nanoparticles with a size 1–2 nm have been prepared in colloidal zeolites. The plasmonic response was characterized by UV‐vis femtosecond absorption spectroscopy and it has revealed that the hot electron lifetime is governed by interactions and couplings at the interface of the silver nanoparticle. Thus, the as‐prepared samples are promising in the perspective of plasmonic chemistry applications.