Enhanced photocatalytic activity of gold nanoparticles driven by supramolecular host–guest chemistry

Abstract

Functionalization of gold nanoparticles with supramolecular hosts allows their plasmon-based photocatalytic activity to be enhanced. This is mainly ascribed to the formation of labile host–guest complexes with the reagent molecules on the metal surface, thus promoting nanoparticle-substrate approximation without interfering with the light-induced catalytic process.