Visible light enhanced catalytic activity of Au n subnanoclusters: the importance of d-sp interband transitions.

Polymers can serve as an effective matrix to stabilize gold nanoparticles. These materials offer a continuous light-activated supply of subnanoclusters, which are composed of a few atoms. We report an efficient approach to enhance the catalytic activity of gold subnanoclusters by in situ feeding of these species through the generation of hot carriers via 5d-6s6p interband transitions on PEG-stabilized Au nanoparticles.