In situ label-free monitoring of noble metal nanoparticle-catalyzed reactions using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: correlative single particle studies and mechanistic investigations

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sebastian Schlücker
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2019 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 410889534

Noble metal nanoparticles are important catalysts for many chemical reactions. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is capable of in situ probing the underlying molecular transformations in a label-free manner with high chemical specificity, high sensitivity, and interface selectivity. In this joint NSFC/DFG proposal, the applicants from China (Xie) and Germany (Schlücker) want to continue their existing successful collaboration and to combine their expertise for investigating the nitro-to-amino conversion on the surface of gold, platinum, and palladium nanoparticles using hydride and molecular hydrogen as reducing agents. Various bifunctional noble metal core/satellite nanoparticles with both SERS and catalytic activity will be synthesized (Xie lab) and characterized in correlative SERS spectroscopic/electron microscopic experiments at the single-particle level in custom-made reactors (Schlücker lab). By synthesizing and investigating a set of rationally designed educt molecules with the nitro group at various positions (Xie lab) we want to obtain a mechanistic understanding on how the nitro-to-amino conversion takes place. Finally, high-resolution SERS spectroscopy (Xie lab) in combination with accompanying DFT calculations (Schlücker lab) aims at resolving the corresponding reaction intermediates in a microfluidic reactor.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: China
• Partner Organisation: National Natural Science Foundation of China
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Wei Xie