Fabrication of novel electronic-catalysts by using MIM tunnel junction

2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22656138
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Physical properties of metals
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: WADAYAMA Toshimasa 東北大学, 大学院・工学研究科, 教授 (20184004)
• Project Period (FY): 2010 – 2011
• Keywords: トンネル接合 / 電子触媒 / ホットエレクトロン

Research Abstract

Precise and tunable control in electronic states of the metal surface should be directly linked to a novel catalytic reaction. Metal-insulator-metal (MIM)tunnel junction, which generates monochromatic hot-electrons under bias-voltage, would be one of the suitable devices for the hot-electron generation. The aim of this study is to clarify the tunnel junction surface works as a promoter of the surface reaction of the adsorbed molecules. We investigate the hot-electron-induced surface reaction of p-and o-nitrobenzoic acid (PNBA, ONBA)on the Ag(Au)top electrode of the Ag(Au)/AlOx/Al tunnel junction by using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The results show that the hot-electron generated under positive-bias voltage can induce reductive coupling reaction of the adsorbed molecules to generate azodibenzoate at the top electrode surface through surface plasmon polariton (SPP)resonance.