Mechanistic Studies of Plasmon Chemistry on Metal Catalysts

Chemical reactions induced by the localized surface plasmon (LSP) of metal nanostructures could be important for a sustainable society to achieve highly efficient conversion from solar energy to chemical energy. However, the reaction mechanism of plasmon chemistry in metal catalysis is still controversial. Mechanistic studies of plasmon chemistry involving direct interactions between the LSP and molecules are reviewed and discussed in terms of the excitation mechanisms of the molecules. We focus on the studies performed using plasmonic metal nanoparticles and highlight the recent progress in plasmon chemistry investigated using scanning probe microscopy with high spatial resolution to obtain mechanistic insights that cannot be obtained by macroscopic analytical methods. This Minireview delivers an overview of the mechanistic understanding of plasmon chemistry in metal catalysis at the current stage, and provides guidance for future studies with respect to clarifying reaction mechanisms.