Al3+-mediated aggregation-induced enhancement of photosensitization performance of gold nanoclusters

Abstract

Photocatalytic oxidation driven by photosensitizers has demonstrated significant potential in the realm of green chemistry. In recent years, metal nanoclusters with well-defined atomic structures have garnered attention as promising photosensitizers owing to their distinctive photoelectronic properties. Nevertheless, enhancing the efficiency of photosensitization remains a critical challenge that impedes its practical implementation. This study reveals that the addition of Al3+ can concurrently augment both the luminescence and photosensitization abilities of glutathione-protected gold nanoclusters. Time-resolved spectroscopic investigations indicate that Al3+ induces intermolecular aggregation of gold nanoclusters, thereby promoting the radiative transition of the excited triplet state and enhancing the energy transfer efficiency to molecular oxygen. The strategy presented herein offers a convenient approach for developing high-performance metal nanocluster-based photosensitization systems.