The maximization of activity is a general aim in catalysis research. The possibility for light-triggered enhancement of a catalytic process, even if the process is not photochemical in nature, represents an intriguing concept. Here, we present a novel system for the exploration of the latter idea. A surfactant with a catalytically active head group, a protonated polyoxometalate (POM) cluster, is attached to the surface of a gold nanoparticle (Au NP) using thiol coupling chemistry. The distance of the catalytically active center to the gold surface could be adjusted precisely using surfactants containing hydrocarbon chains (Cn) of different lengths (n = 4–10). Radiation with VIS-light has no effect on the catalytic activity of micellar aggregates of the surfactant. The situation changes, as soon as the surfactants have been attached to the Au NPs. The catalytic activity could almost be doubled. It was proven that the effect is caused by coupling the surface plasmon resonance of the Au NPs with the properties of the POM head group. The improvement of activity could only be observed if the excitation wavelength matches the absorption band of the used Au NPs. Furthermore, the shorter the distance between the POM group and the surface of the NP, the stronger is the effect. This phenomenon was explained by lowering the activation energy of the transition state relevant to the catalytic process by the strong electric fields in the vicinity of the surfaces of plasmonic nanoparticles. Because the catalytic enhancement is wavelength-selective, one can imagine the creation of complex systems in the future, a system of differently sized NPs, each responsible for a different catalytic step and activated by light of different colors.

The order of periodic arrays of hexagonal ZnO nanoplates has been investigated in terms of polydispersity. A continuous transition from a crystalline to a glassy state has been found.

The leaf is a prime example of a material converting waste (CO2) into value with maximum sustainability. As the most important constituent, it contains the coupled photosystems II and I, which are imbedded in the cellular membrane of the chloroplasts. Can key functions of the leaf be packed into soap? We present next‐generation surfactants that self‐assemble into bilayer vesicles (similar to the cellular membrane), are able to absorb photons of two different visible wavelengths, and exchange excited charge carriers (similar to the photosystems), followed by conversion of CO2 (in analogy to the leaf). The amphiphiles contain five dye molecules as the hydrophobic entity attached exclusively to one hemisphere of a polyhydroxylated fullerene (Janus‐type). We herein report on their surfactant, optical, electronic, and catalytic properties. Photons absorbed by the dyes are transferred to the fullerenol head, where they can react with different species such as CO2 to give formic acid.

Complex, anisotropic nanocrystals made from two or more components are extremely interesting functional materials that can drive directional, light-activated processes like charge separation and photocatalysis. However, while some synthetic protocols exist, little is known about the reaction mechanism for regioselective, heterogeneous nucleation of a second semiconductor material onto nanocrystal seeds. This paper presents the mechanism that leads to growth of a single tip at one end of CdS nanorods with yields between 50 and 80%. It is shown that the growth of only one tip is a result of tight control of the available, nucleating monomer in the reaction solution by working at a large chalcogenide excess. Conditions that facilitate this reaction pathway are characterized by a kinetic barrier to homogeneous growth. These match those for the formation of metastable magic-size clusters. Through this boundary condition, it can be understood why the formation of telluride tips is favored in comparison to selenides and sulfides, for which the regimes for cluster formation and nucleation on surfaces do not overlap.

We present a highly chemoselective deposition of precious metals on semiconductor nanoheterostructures with a strong preference for cadmium and zinc telluride over the lighter chalcogenides. The selectivity is explained by p-type surface traps on the tellurides, compared to n-type defects of the homologous sulfides and selenides, and can be turned off by passivating the particle surface. The results give insight into the nature and role of surface defects for semiconductor nanocrystals. The fast formation of many, small metal seeds leads to aggregation of the particles into star-shaped or branched superstructures, leaving the rest of the semiconductor surface exposed. It provides a preparative route toward complex, yet well-defined semiconductor-metal hybrid structures with potential application in photocatalysis.