Co-adsorption of p-mercaptobenzoic acid on silver nanoparticles enhances the plasmon-mediated coupling reaction of p-ethynylaniline
(2026) In Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 471.- Abstract
- The enhancement of the electromagnetic field elicited by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is conducive to the generation of charge carriers, which have an important effect in driving many kinds of chemical reactions. Nonetheless, the short lifespan of charge carriers generated by plasmon (typically femtoseconds to nanoseconds) limits their effectiveness in promoting chemical reactions. Here, we have applied surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy to probe the plasmon-mediated coupling reaction of p-ethynylaniline (PEAN) on silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The use of p-mercaptobenzoic acid (PMBA) as a co-catalyst facilitated the transfer and separation of hot electrons produced by the plasmon at its interface with... (More) 
- The enhancement of the electromagnetic field elicited by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is conducive to the generation of charge carriers, which have an important effect in driving many kinds of chemical reactions. Nonetheless, the short lifespan of charge carriers generated by plasmon (typically femtoseconds to nanoseconds) limits their effectiveness in promoting chemical reactions. Here, we have applied surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy to probe the plasmon-mediated coupling reaction of p-ethynylaniline (PEAN) on silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The use of p-mercaptobenzoic acid (PMBA) as a co-catalyst facilitated the transfer and separation of hot electrons produced by the plasmon at its interface with the Ag NPs. This process accelerated the PEAN coupling reaction by extending the lifespan of hot carriers, which was achieved by matching hot electrons produced by the plasmon with the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy distribution of co-adsorbed PMBA molecules. These survey results indicate the potential for effective acceleration or inhibition of plasmon-mediated chemical reactions (PMCR) through the introduction of molecular co-catalysts, offering a simple, cost-effective, and efficient strategy for preparing plasmon catalysts. (Less)
- author
- Ding, Jiacheng ; Luo, Jibiao ; Che, Yandong ; Wang, Xu ; Kong, Lingru ; Pullerits, Tõnu LU ; Song, Peng and Yang, Yanqiu
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-02
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Molecular co-catalysts, P-ethynylaniline coupling reaction, Plasmon-mediated chemical reactions, Surface-enhanced Raman scattering
- in
- Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry
- volume
- 471
- article number
- 116685
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
- 
                - scopus:105012973485
 
- ISSN
- 1010-6030
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116685
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 55c28134-eefd-4d2f-a6cd-625997bc2ebf
- date added to LUP
- 2025-10-27 10:55:27
- date last changed
- 2025-10-27 10:56:27
@article{55c28134-eefd-4d2f-a6cd-625997bc2ebf,
  abstract     = {{<p>The enhancement of the electromagnetic field elicited by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is conducive to the generation of charge carriers, which have an important effect in driving many kinds of chemical reactions. Nonetheless, the short lifespan of charge carriers generated by plasmon (typically femtoseconds to nanoseconds) limits their effectiveness in promoting chemical reactions. Here, we have applied surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy to probe the plasmon-mediated coupling reaction of p-ethynylaniline (PEAN) on silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The use of p-mercaptobenzoic acid (PMBA) as a co-catalyst facilitated the transfer and separation of hot electrons produced by the plasmon at its interface with the Ag NPs. This process accelerated the PEAN coupling reaction by extending the lifespan of hot carriers, which was achieved by matching hot electrons produced by the plasmon with the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy distribution of co-adsorbed PMBA molecules. These survey results indicate the potential for effective acceleration or inhibition of plasmon-mediated chemical reactions (PMCR) through the introduction of molecular co-catalysts, offering a simple, cost-effective, and efficient strategy for preparing plasmon catalysts.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ding, Jiacheng and Luo, Jibiao and Che, Yandong and Wang, Xu and Kong, Lingru and Pullerits, Tõnu and Song, Peng and Yang, Yanqiu}},
  issn         = {{1010-6030}},
  keywords     = {{Molecular co-catalysts; P-ethynylaniline coupling reaction; Plasmon-mediated chemical reactions; Surface-enhanced Raman scattering}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry}},
  title        = {{Co-adsorption of p-mercaptobenzoic acid on silver nanoparticles enhances the plasmon-mediated coupling reaction of p-ethynylaniline}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116685}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116685}},
  volume       = {{471}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}