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Project Pages - Nanospectroscopy - Deckert Group

Selected nano-catalysis projects

History

The near-field spectroscopic investigation of single catalytic sites started using so-called aperture based near-field probes. A Pd catalyzed hydrogenation reaction was investigated using a silver substrate as a Raman enhancer. Strong indications of a the hydrogenation product were detected, however, the signal-to-noise ratio of aperture based methods presents a major challenge and prevented in situ high resolution invesigations.

References

C. Fokas, V. Deckert, Towards in situ Raman Microscopy of Single Catalytic Sites.
Appl. Spectrosc, 2002, 56, 2, 192.

Direct investigation of a plasmon catalyzed reaction

TERS has been applied to the investigation of plasmon catalysed reactions, namely azo coupling reactions. A dual-wavelength approach allows to use the probe as a catalyst and a plasmonic probe at the same time and such investigate reactivities with nanometer lateral resolution.

References

E. M. van Schrojenstein Lantman, T. Deckert-Gaudig, A. J. G. Mank, V. Deckert,B. M. Weckhuysen Catalytic processes monitored at the nanoscale with tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
Nat Nano, 2012, 7, 9, 583.

Plasmon mediated protonation

In special cases a plasmonic probe can induce protonation reactions. A clear distinction between atmospheric and temperature influences could be determined.

References

P. Singh, V. Deckert, Local protonation control using plasmonic activation.
Chem. Commun, 2014, 50, 76, 11204.