Tracking the rotation of single CdS nanorods during photocatalysis with surface plasmon resonance microscopy

space. Consistency between the peak angle and the geometrical orientation of the nanorod was validated by both in situ scanning electron microscope characterizations and theoretical calculations. Real-time monitoring of the rotational dynamics of single CdS nanorods further revealed the accelerated rotation under appropriate reaction conditions for photocatalyzed hydrogen generation. The driving force was attributed to the asymmetric production of hydrogen molecules as a result of inhomogeneous distribution of reactive sites within the nanorod. The present work not only builds the experimental and theoretical connections between the orientation of anisotropic nanomaterials and its SPRM images; the general suitability of SPRM also sheds light on broad types of nonfluorescent and nonplasmonic anisotropic nanoobjects from semiconductors to bacteria and viruses.