Plasmonic Materials: Opportunities and Challenges on Reticular Chemistry for Photocatalytic Applications

Abstract

AbstractSolar‐light harvesting materials currently represent a hot topic in catalysis due to the several applications where they can be used. Among the recent strategies to enhance the photocatalytic performance of semiconductor materials, plasmonic metals are trending. Coupling plasmonic metal nanoparticles with a semiconductor material can give unique synergistic effects and properties. Especially when reticular materials, like metal organic frameworks, are used to generate these plasmonic nanocomposites. Herein, a brief introduction to the localized surface plasmon resonance and reticular materials design and fabrication is given. Also, the advantages of plasmonic with reticular nanostructures are discussed. The following highlights summarize recent advances in sunlight‐driven plasmonic reactions (CO2 photoreduction, water depollution, gas sensing, and optical reactions). Theoretical and experimental approaches are discussed, regarding mechanistic phenomena of nanocomposites with reticular materials and surface plasmon metals. A proper discussion and perspective of the remaining challenges and future opportunities for plasmonic metals with reticular materials in the field of photocatalysis is given in the overview and conclusion.