Probing Bidirectional Plasmon-Plasmon Coupling-Induced Hot Charge Carriers in Dualplasmonic Au/CuS Nanocrystals

TL;DR

This study investigates the ultrafast charge carrier dynamics in heterostructured Au/CuS nanocrystals, revealing dualplasmonic coupling effects that are faster than thermal processes and differ from simple mixtures, advancing understanding of plasmonic interactions.

Contribution

It demonstrates that dualplasmonic coupling in Au/CuS nanocrystals is unique to heterostructures and occurs via rapid charge transfer, providing new insights into plasmonic interactions in nanomaterials.

Findings

Dualplasmonic resonance observed at 551 nm and 1051 nm.

Charge transfer interaction occurs in less than 100 fs.

Heterostructured NCs show faster hot carrier relaxation than mixtures.

Abstract

Heterostructured Au/CuS nanocrystals (NCs) exhibit localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) centered at two different wavelengths (551 nm and 1051 nm) with a slight broadening compared to respective homostructured Au and CuS NC spectra. By applying ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) we show that a resonant excitation at the respective LSPR maxima of the heterostructured Au/CuS NCs leads to the characteristic hot charge carrier relaxation associated with both LSPRs in both cases. A comparison of the dualplasmonic heterostructure behavior with a colloidal mixture of homostructured Au and CuS NCs shows that the coupled dualplasmonic interaction is only active in the heterostructured Au/CuS NCs. By investigating the charge carrier dynamics of the process, we find that the observed interaction is charge carrier based as it is faster than phononic or thermal processes (< 100 fs). The relaxation of the generated hot charge carriers is faster for heterostructured nanocrystals, also indicating, that the interaction occurs as an energy transfer or charge carrier transfer between both materials. Our results strengthen the understanding of multiplasmonic interactions in heterostructured Au/CuS NCs and will significantly advance applications where these interactions are essential, such as catalytic reactions.