Pt–Au Triangular Nanoprisms with Strong Dipole Plasmon Resonance for Hydrogen Generation Studied by Single-Particle Spectroscopy

Three anisotropic Pt-covered, Pt-edged, and Pt-tipped Au triangular nanoprisms (TNPs) were prepared by controlling the overgrowth of Pt as photocatalysts for H2 generation. With strong electric field and more interface for the hot electrons transfer, the H2 generation rate of Pt-edged Au TNPs was 3 and 5 times higher than those of Pt-tipped and Pt-covered Au TNPs. Single-particle photoluminescence (PL) spectra and finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) simulations demonstrated that dipole surface plasmon resonance (DSPR) of Au TNPs enhanced the hot electrons transfer from Au to Pt leading to H2 generation. SPR bands of Au TNPs depending on the size play an important role on the photocatalytic activity of Pt-edged Au TNPs.