Chromophore functionalized gold nanoparticles and nanorods

PHYS 126

Prashant V. Kamat, pkamat@nd.edu, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Radiation Laboratory, Notre Dame, IN 46556, Meghan Jebb, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Univesity of Notre Dame, Radiation Laboratory, Notre Dame, IN 46556-5674, and K. George Thomas, Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory, University of Notre Dame, Regional Research Laboratory, Trivandrum, India, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0579.
Photoactive hybrid nanostructures have been designed by functionalizing metal nanoparticles and nanorods with chromophores. Excited chromophores such as pyrene interact with metal nanoparticles via electron transfer while excited ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridyl) complex deactivates via energy transfer process. The charge equilibration between metal nanoparticles and nanorods and semiconductor oxide (TiO2, ZnO) particles has also been probed using redox equilibration. The shift in the Fermi level of the semiconductor-metal composite plays an important role in improving the photocatalytic properties for solar hydrogen production. The salient features of metal nanostructure based assemblies for improving the efficiency of light harvesting assemblies will be discussed.
 

Spectroscopy, Chemistry, and Imaging through Nanophotonics
8:20 AM-12:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. 340/341, Oral

Division of Physical Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008