On the plausible nature of the size effect in heterogeneous catalysis on gold nanoparticles

Abstract

We suggest that the size effect in heterogeneous catalysis on gold nanoparticles (GNP) of ~1.3 - 9 nm size can be related to spontaneous terahertz (THz) emission of GNPs in the process of channeling the energy of longitudinal phonons therein into THz electromagnetic radiation. Since rotational and vibrational energy levels of molecules adsorbed on the GNP surface are in the THz range, the irradiation by self-induced THz photons would engage the molecules' swing and twisting, which in its turn would weaken or break the intramolecular bonds, facilitating their entering a chemical reaction on the GNP surface.