Mechanisms of the Plasmon-Induced Charge Separation (PICS)

Abstract

Photoinduced charge separation based on localized surface plasmon resonance (i.e. plasmon-induced charge separation, PICS), proceeds at the interface between gold, silver, or copper nanoparticle and semiconductor such as TiO₂. PICS, which is often confused with, but different from the metal co-catalyst effect and the plasmonic enhancement effect, is caused by electron injection from resonant plasmonic metal nanoparticle to a semiconductor. Applications of PICS include photovoltaic cells, photodiodes, photoconductive devices, photocatalysts, chemical sensors, surface patterning techniques, photochromic materials, holographic memories, and photoactuators.