Saline hybrid nanoparticles with phthalocyanine and tetraphenylporphine anions showing efficient singlet-oxygen production and photocatalysis

Abstract

The inorganic–organic hybrid nanoparticles Gd₄³⁺[AlPCS₄]₃⁴⁻ and La₄³⁺[TPPS₄]₃⁴⁻ ([AlPCS₄]⁴⁻: aluminium(III) chlorido phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate; [TPPS₄]⁴⁻: tetraphenylporphine sulfonate) are shown for the first time. Both were obtained via aqueous synthesis and contain extremely high contents of [AlPCS₄]₃⁴⁻ (81 wt%) and [TPPS₄]₃⁴⁻ (83 wt%). They show efficient singlet oxygen (¹O₂) production upon daylight and red-light irradiation. Photocatalysis is evidenced via dye degradation as a proof-of-the-concept and proceeds with daylight and even red-light illumination.