Dynamics of polar solvation at the surface of a ZrO2 nanoparticle

Polar solvation dynamics of a 95:5% (v/v) water/acetone mixture have been measured at the ZrO2 nanoparticle surface by time-resolved fluorescence of a probe molecule adsorbed to the particle surface. The interfacial solvent response displays two sub-picosecond diffusive components with the same time constants as bulk solution. However, the relative amplitudes for the individual relaxation components are significantly different, leading to a faster average solvation response for molecules at the ZrO2 surface. Furthermore, the overall fluorescence Stokes shift is approximately three times smaller for dye molecules adsorbed to the nanoparticle surface. Implications for electron injection into semiconductor nanoparticles are discussed.