Probing In Situ Nanoscale Chemistry with Plasmon-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Gyeongwon Kang

Assistant Professor

Department of Chemistry, Kangwon National University

E-mail: gkang@kangwon.ac.kr

Plasmonic nanostructures achieve sensitive detection of reaction pathways by confining optical fields near the active surfaces. However, effective control and sensitive observation of reaction pathways remain a challenge in order to utilize nanostructure constructs as efficient catalysis. During this talk, two different surface sensitive reactions are thoroughly studied using surface sensitive plasmon-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

(1)   A nanoreactor construct exhibiting high catalytic and optical efficiencies, based on a nanoparticle-on-mirror (NPoM) platform is presented. This platform offers a great opportunity to observe and track pathways of the Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyarura coupling reaction of molecules within a set of nanogaps presenting different chemical surfaces.

(2)   Local heterogenous redox chemistry of an adsorbed molecule is spatially resolved with electrochemical tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC-TERS). In situ EC-TERS intensity map over a nanoscale electrode surface exhibits a well-defined spatial resolution. Electrochemical activity of the molecule sensitive to local electrode environment is also observed with a spatial resolution of 40 nm.