Self-transformation of ultra-small gold nanoclusters to gold nanocrystals toward boosted photoreduction catalysis

Abstract

Glutathione-protected Au_x nanoclusters uniformly and intimately embedded at the interface of CdSe QDs and graphene were in situ self-transformed to Au nanocrystals (NCs) via a facile thermal reduction strategy. The inlaid Au NPs substantially accelerate the interfacial directional charge transfer toward multifarious photoreduction catalysis under visible light irradiation.