Bridging the Gap: Electron Relay and Plasmonic Sensitization of Metal Nanocrystals for Metal Clusters

In recent years, enormous attention has been paid to the construction of metal cluster-semiconductor nanocomposites because of the fascinating and unique properties of metal clusters; however, investigations on photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photocatalytic properties of metal cluster-semiconductor systems are still rare. Moreover, to date, intrinsic correlation between metal clusters and bulk metal nanocrystals has yet to be elucidated. In this work, a facile layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly strategy has been developed to judiciously and intimately integrate gold nanocrystals (Au) within the interface between gold clusters (Au(x)) and hierarchically ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays framework, by which imperative roles of Au nanocrystals as electron relay mediator and plasmonic sensitizer for Aux clusters were revealed. In addition, it was found that synergistic interaction between Au nanocrystals and Aux clusters contributed to promising visible-light-driven photocatalytical and PEC performances. It is anticipated that our work could provide a general way for rationally constructing metal and metal clusters codecorated semiconductor heterostructures and, more significantly, bridge the gap between metal clusters and metal nanocrystals for a diverse range of applications.