Investigating the Light and Magnetic Field Interplay in Plasmonic Catalysis using XAS/XES and XMCD studies

We demonstrate a 150% enhancement in the catalytic activity of plasmonic catalysts under a 560 mT magnetic field, a breakthrough in plasmonic catalysis. This enhancement arises from spin polarization, magnon excitations, and Lorentz forces, prolonging hot carrier lifetimes. However, the mechanisms of magneto-plasmonic catalysis remain unclear. We propose X-ray spectroscopy (XAS, XMCD) to probe electronic structure and spin polarization under light and magnetic fields. We anticipate charge carrier separation shifts XAS edges, unveiling new insights into magnetic field effects on plasmonic catalysts. By successively increasing the complexity of the experiments, we anticipate learning how magnetic field modulates electronic structure in plasmonic catalysts, and spin dynamics in the presence of light providing a novel perspective on the enhancement of catalytic activity.