I will describe a paradigm at the intersection of physical and synthetic chemistry called plasmonic redox catalysis. Using this paradigm and with support from industrial partners such as Shell and Aramco, my group has been devising ways to manufacture chemicals and fuels in ways that are alternative to practices in the fossil-fuel industry. At the heart of this chemistry lies a rich interplay of many-body electronic excitations and ultrafast flow of energy and carriers. We are using tools such as in-situ single-molecule vibrational spectroscopy and optically coupled transmission electron microscopy to understand these dynamics. But our best insights to date are coming from computer simulations that integrate quantum chemistry, nanoparticles, and electrodynamic action.
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
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Urbana, IL 61801
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