6-Aza-2-thio-thymine–gold nanoclusters: an excellent candidate in the photoelectrochemical field. Issue 42 (5th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Yu; Wei, Chaoguo; Wang, Wenjun; Noreldeen, Hamada A. A.; Huang, Zhongnan; Deng, Haohua; Peng, Huaping; Xia, Xinghua; Chen, Wei
• Is Part Of: Chemical communications. Volume 58:Issue 42(2022)
• Page Start: 6219
• Page End: 6222
• Publication Date: 2022-05-05
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/d2cc00291d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-7345

Abstract

Abstract : The PEC performance of the reported AuNCs still fails to meet expectations. Herein, we show that a record PEC performance of AuNCs in aqueous solutions can be achieved with 6-aza-2-thio-thymine–AuNCs (ATT–AuNCs) as a photoactive material. Abstract : The high performance of the photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of AuNCs can be achieved with 6-aza-2-thio-thymine–AuNCs (ATT–AuNCs) as a photoactive material. The ATT–AuNCs yielded a cathodic photocurrent density as high as 88 μA cm −2 with O2 as electron acceptor, which is three orders of magnitude higher than those of other AuNCs in aqueous solutions. Moreover, ATT–AuNCs also show a higher carrier density, shorter Debye length, and smaller depletion layer width than those of reported AuNCs. This work not only reveals the PEC performance and mechanism of ATT–AuNCs, but also establishes a framework for in-depth design and studying the PEC performance of AuNCs.