Stochastic Noise in Single-Nanoparticle Catalysis

Nanoparticle-based catalysts exhibit considerable complexity and heterogeneity. New light can be shed into these aspects by probing catalysis on the level of single nanoparticles. Here, we monitor on individual Ag nanoparticles plasmon-excitation-driven CO2 reduction and formation of multicarbon species on the Ag surface. The measurements show that catalytic activities and selectivities are variable from one nanoparticle to another, an effect...