Role of an Inert Electrode Support in Plasmonic Electrocatalysis

Direct loading of plasmonic nanostructures onto catalytically inert conductive support materials leads to the Schottky barrier-free architecture photocatalytic system. Such systems have recently attracted attention research community as they permit collection hot carriers independent their energy when additional charge separation strategies are used. However, a systematic mechanistic investigation and description contribution an electrocatalysis is missing. Herein, we systematically investigated effect supporting electrode material on observed photoinduced enhancement by comparing photoelectrocatalytic properties AuNPs supported highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes using electrocatalytic benzyl alcohol (BnOH) oxidation model Upon illumination, only ∼(3 ± 1)% in catalytic current was recorded AuNP/ITO contrast ∼(42 6)% AuNP/HOPG electrodes. Our results showed that local heating due light absorption itself localized surface plasmon effects primary source significant HOPG comparison ITO Moreover, demonstrated increased interfacial transfer at elevated temperatures not faster reactant diffusion suggested previously main thermal enhancement. This work highlights importance evaluation contributions all parts, even if inert, light-induced facilitation reactions systems.