Issue 31, 2024

Single-molecule fluorescence imaging of photocatalytic nanomaterials

Abstract

Photocatalytic nanomaterials can intensively interact with light to drive catalytic reactions and have emerged as a novel class of catalysts for sustainability applications and mitigating environmental crises. Understanding the fundamental processes of photocatalytic reactions, such as charge carrier generation, separation, and transport as well as reactivity site distribution, is key to the rational design of optimal catalysts. However, conventional ensemble measurements are unable to differentiate the heterogeneities intrinsic to individual nanocatalysts in size, facet, morphology, and crystal phase, imposing a grand challenge in explicitly uncovering the structure–property relationship. In this review, we highlight the versatility of an emerging operando imaging technique, namely single-molecule fluorescence microscopy (SMFM), in unravelling the puzzles in photocatalytic processes. In particular, the high spatiotemporal resolution of SMFM allows to study single- or even sub-particle catalysis, thus offering unprecedented insights into mechanistic understanding and catalyst design. We first discuss the fundamentals of SMFM and its use for investigating catalytic reactions based on plasmonic metals and semiconductors. We then highlight heterostructured photocatalysts with diverse combinations of plasmonic metals, non-plasmonic catalytic nanomaterials, and/or semiconductors. Recent advances in investigating bio-inorganic hybrids and non-fluorescent entities are also reviewed. Finally, we provide a discussion on the challenges and opportunities in this field, aiming to inspire novel ideas and promote the exploration of SMFM for new applications.

Graphical abstract: Single-molecule fluorescence imaging of photocatalytic nanomaterials

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
05 abr 2024
Accepted
23 jun 2024
First published
24 jun 2024

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 19627-19662

Single-molecule fluorescence imaging of photocatalytic nanomaterials

S. Zhang, D. Fan, Q. Yan, Y. Lu, D. Wu, B. Fu and M. Zhao, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, 12, 19627 DOI: 10.1039/D4TA02347A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements