LAUSR

Palladium is a commonly used catalyst in hydrogenation reactions due to its affinity to adsorb hydrogen, but the subsequent absorption of hydrogen, or the phase transformation into palladium hydride, can affect the catalytic activity and/or selectivity [1]. Currently, the formation/dissolution of palladium hydride is controlled via setting macroscopic parameters such as temperature and chemical potential (i.e. hydrogen pressure). Local surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) offer an alternative, optical route to control the palladium hydride phase transition due to the LSPR decay products of light, hot carriers, and heat [2]. Additionally, LSPRs support non-uniform electromagnetic enhancement profiles that could provide subparticle spatial control of the phase transition. However, most techniques to track nanoparticle phase transitions lack the ability to identify differences in transient behavior at the sub-particle level.