Abstract
Summary The intense electric (E-) field associated with the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of noble-metal nanoantennas provides a rational strategy for enhancing photoinduced charge transfer in photocatalysts. Here, we demonstrate E-field-enhanced direct photocatalytic urea oxidation and a visible-light-driven direct urea fuel cell (LDUFC) with tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) ([Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2+ )-enabled plasmonic nanopigments that contain a phospholipid membrane self-assembled around a Ag nanoparticle (NP) whose LSPR overlaps the [Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2+ metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT). In the hierarchical plasmonic nanopigment design, the membrane serves as scaffold and spacer to localize [Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2+ in an electromagnetic “sweet spot” where substantial plasmonic enhancement of photoexcitation is achieved while strong metal-associated quenching of the reactive excited state is avoided. The demonstration of plasmon-enhanced photocatalytic urea oxidation and the implementation of the LDUFC represent important advancements toward improved light-driven waste-water treatment and efficient solar energy conversion.
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