This advancement, which has already led to a patent filing, holds promise for transforming the global energy landscape and offers exciting new opportunities for environmental protection.
The researchers, led by Prof. Pedro Camargo, have created novel bimetallic “antenna-reactor” nanoparticles that uniquely combine plasmonic and catalytic materials. This new technology leverages sunlight to drive chemical reactions more efficiently and selectively, crucial for producing green hydrogen and ammonia — two key elements in the shift toward clean energy.
“Our findings demonstrate that ultralow loadings of catalytic materials on these nanoparticles can significantly boost their performance under visible light,” said Prof. Pedro Camargo. “This enables us to produce hydrogen and ammonia far more effectively, with improved control over the selectivity of these reactions, which is essential for practical applications.”
Published in the Angewandte Chemie International Edition, the study reveals that by finely tuning the amount of platinum on gold nanoparticles, the hydrogen evolution rate can be increased by six times compared to traditional catalysts. Additionally, the ammonia production rate from nitrite reduction is enhanced by 6.5 times, with a 2.5-fold improvement in reaction selectivity under light conditions.
The secret to this performance boost lies in the strategic placement of platinum on the nanoparticle surface. This creates regions that significantly accelerate reactions when exposed to light.
“This discovery opens up exciting possibilities for designing new materials that can drive sustainable energy transformations more efficiently,” added Prof. Pedro Camargo. “Our work suggests that by using minimal amounts of noble metals, strategically placed, we can achieve superior results—paving the way for more cost-effective and scalable green technologies.”
Recognizing the potential of this innovation, the University of Helsinki has filed a patent based on the technology. Moreover, the research team has secured a prestigious Research to Business project grant from Business Finland to further develop and commercialize this breakthrough. This funding will support the transition of the technology from the laboratory to real-world applications, with the aim of making a significant impact on the global transition to greener energy solutions.