Silver nanoparticle enhanced metal-organic matrix with interface-engineering for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Integrating plasmonic nanoparticles into the photoactive metal-organic matrix is highly desirable due to the plasmonic near field enhancement, complementary light absorption, and accelerated separation of photogenerated charge carriers at the junction interface. The construction of a well-defined, intimate interface is vital for efficient charge carrier separation, however, it remains a challenge in synthesis. Here we synthesize a junction bearing intimate interface, composed of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles and matrix with silver node via a facile one-step approach. The plasmonic effect of Ag nanoparticles on the matrix is visualized through electron energy loss mapping. Moreover, charge carrier transfer from the plasmonic nanoparticles to the matrix is verified through ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy and in-situ photoelectron spectroscopy. The system delivers highly efficient visible-light photocatalytic H_2 generation, surpassing most reported metal-organic framework-based photocatalytic systems. This work sheds light on effective electronic and energy bridging between plasmonic nanoparticles and organic semiconductors. The integration of plasmonic structures with photoactive matrices offers a promising means to enhance solar-to-fuel conversion. Here, the authors bridge plasmonic nanoparticles and metal-organic matrix through interface-engineering to boost photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.