Enhancing Singlet Oxygen Photocatalysis with Plasmonic Nanoparticles

Photocatalysts able to trigger the production of singlet oxygen species are topic intense research efforts in organic synthesis. Yet, challenges still exist improving their activity and optimizing use. Herein, we exploited benefits plasmonic nanoparticles boost such photocatalysts via an antenna effect visible range. We synthesized silica-coated silver (Ag@SiO2 NPs), with silica shells which thicknesses ranged from 7 45 nm. showed that they served as plasmonically active supports for tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II), [Ru(bpy)3]2+, demonstrated enhanced catalytic under white light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation citronellol oxidation, a key step commercial rose oxide fragrance. A maximum enhancement plasmon-mediated reactivity approximately 3-fold was observed 28 nm layer along 4-fold emission intensity photocatalyst. Using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) boundary element method simulations, mapped decay signal around Ag core provided rationale enhancement. This work provides systematic analysis promising properties NPs used catalysis-enhancing common homogeneous framework successful design systems context transformations.