Plasmon photocatalysis
View Patent ↗Plasmons on a waveguide may deliver energy to photocatalyze a reaction. The waveguide or other energy carrier may be configured to carry electromagnetic energy and generate plasmon energy at one or more locations proximate to the waveguide, where the plasmon energy may react chemically with a medium or interaction material.
1. A method, comprising:
providing energy;
coupling said energy to plasmons; and
applying said plasmons to catalyze a chemical reaction, the chemical reaction including a photocatalytic reaction.
2. The method of claim 1 , further including generating the energy.
3. The method of claim 1 , further including guiding the energy.
4. The method of claim 1 , further including converting the plasmons into electromagnetic energy to catalyze the chemical reaction.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plasmons are applied directly to catalyze the chemical reaction.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy includes electromagnetic energy corresponding to a wavelength band, wherein the wavelength band overlaps at least in part with the optical portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy includes electromagnetic energy corresponding to a wavelength band, wherein the wavelength band overlaps at least in part with the ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein catalyzing a chemical reaction includes photocatalyzing a chemical reaction.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein applying the plasmons to catalyze the chemical reaction includes converting the plasmons to electromagnetic energy.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the plasmons to catalyze a chemical reaction includes inducing the chemical reaction.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the plasmons to catalyze a chemical reaction includes changing the rate of the chemical reaction.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy includes electromagnetic energy corresponding to a first wavelength band, and further comprising selecting the first wavelength band according to an energy gap of a photocatalyst.
13. A pocket of plasmon activated material within an unreacted mass, said plasmon activated material including a photocatalyst, said plasmon activated material being achieved by the process of:
propagating a plasmon; and
transferring energy from the plasmon to the material.
14. A method comprising:
selecting a photocatalyst having an energy gap;
selecting a waveguide configured to carry electromagnetic energy having an energy range that is at least partially within the energy gap;
selecting an energy converter configured to convert the electromagnetic energy to plasmon energy; and
arranging the waveguide, energy converter, and photocatalyst to promote photocatalysis.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising coupling electromagnetic energy into the waveguide.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the energy converter is integral to the waveguide.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein the photocatalyst is integral to the waveguide.
18. The method of claim 14 further comprising interacting the plasmon energy with the photocatalyst.