Glutathione capped metal nanoclusters (Aux-GSH NCs) exhibit molecular like properties and their excited state properties can be controlled through numbers of metal atoms and capping ligands. Their long lived excited state (lifetime ~ 800 ns) and reversible reduction (E0= -0.63 V vs. RHE) and oxidation (E0= 1.51 V vs. RHE) potentials make them suitable as visible sensitizers for driving the water splitting reaction. When a mesoscopic TiO2 film sensitized by Aux-GSH NCs was used as the photoanode in a photoelectrochemical cell we can generate photocurrent under visible light irradiation with a photoconversion efficiency of 2%. Additionally, sensitizing Pt/TiO2 nanoparticles with Aux-GSH NCs has been explored in an aqueous slurry system and irradiating with visible light resulted in hydrogen production. These metal nanoclusters which serve as a new class of visible photosensitizers offer new opportunities as light harvesting assemblies.

Thiolated metal clusters as new class of photosensitizers in light energy conversion

248th National Meeting (2014)

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