doi.org
CO2 Conversion in Cu–Pd Based Disordered Network Metamaterials with Ultrasmall Mode Volumes
Plasmons can drive chemical reactions by directly exciting intramolecular transitions. However, strong coupling of plasmons to single molecules remains a challenge as ultrasmall mode volumes are required. In the presented work, we propose Cu–Pd plasmonic network metamaterials as scalable platforms for plasmon-assisted catalysis. Due to the absence of translational symmetry, these networks provide a unique plasmonic environment featuring a large local density of optical states and an unparalleled density of hotspots that effectively localizes light in mode volumes V < 8 × 10–24 m3. Catalytic performance tests during CO2 conversion reveal production rates of up to 4.3 × 102 mmol g–1 h–1 and altered reaction selectivity under light illumination. Importantly, we show that the selectivity of the catalytic process can be tuned by modifying the network’s chemical composition, offering a versatile approach to optimize reaction pathways.
