Various gold nanoparticles possessing tunable absorption bands in visible range were prepared and used in reduction and coupling reactions under light irradiation.  Since gold nanoparticles have shown an ability to absorb light energy and convert it into heat, the irradiation of these gold nanoparticles with solar light can raise temperature of reaction media without any electrical thermal input.  We have evaluated the photothermal heating efficiency of water in the presence of various gold nanoparticles upon light irradiation.  Subsequently, these nanoparticles are employed in the chemical reactions in the presence and absence of light irradiation to examine their catalytic efficiency as a function of absorption property. In general, light irradiation enhances the reaction rate and yield in the presence of gold nanoparticles due to the higher photon-to-heat conversion property.

Light-enhanced catalytic activities of various gold nanoparticles

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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