Plasmonic resonances can significantly enhance catalytic processes through various mechanisms. When metallic nanoparticles are illuminated with light matching their plasmonic resonance frequency, they generate intense localized electromagnetic fields. These fields can:
1. Increase Reaction Rates: The enhanced fields can excite electrons, creating hot carriers (electrons and holes) that can transfer to reactant molecules, lowering activation energy and accelerating reaction rates. 2. Heat Generation: The decay of plasmonic excitations can produce localized heating, which can enhance catalytic reactions that are temperature-dependent. 3. Surface Activation: Plasmonic fields can activate specific sites on the catalyst surface, making them more reactive towards particular reaction intermediates.
