Continuous hot electron generation in Pt/TiO2, Pd/TiO2, and Pt/GaN catalytic nanodiodes from oxidation of carbon monoxide.

Thin films (<10 nm) of platinum or palladium were deposited on TiO2 or GaN to form Schottky diodes. We detected and monitored the continuous electron flow across the metal-oxide interfaces of Pt/TiO2, Pd/TiO2, and Pt/GaN during the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide. The electron excitation and flow in the metals were due to conversion of energy released by the oxidation of carbon monoxide into the kinetic energy of free electrons in platinum and palladium. The best conversion of three electrons per four CO2 molecules was observed from 5 nm Pt/TiO2.