Photolysis Dynamics of Benzyl Phenyl Sulfide Adsorbed on Silver Nanoparticles

The photolysis dynamics of benzyl phenyl sulfide adsorbed on silver nanoparticles suspended in water has been studied by using time-resolved transient-absorption spectroscopy. The adsorbed molecule desorbs from the metallic surface with a photoejected electron within 2 ns after excitation. The anionic species dissociates into benzenethiolate and benzyl radical on the time scale of 8 ns. The benzenethiolate combines to the metallic surface of a silver nanoparticle in 30 ns while the benzyl radical abstracts atomic hydrogen from water in 130 ns to form toluene.