Spectroscopic insights on energy transfer phenomenon from phthalocyanine to gold nanoparticle and role of phthalocyanine-gold nanoparticle conjugate over supramolecular interaction between fullerene and phthalocyanine in solution

- Non-covalent interaction of PC70BM with Pc in presence of AuNp is studied in solution.
- Remarkable enhancement in energy transfer efficiency from ZnPc to AuNp is observed.
- H2Pc is found to undergo strong intermolecular interaction with PC70BM.
- Large value of quantum yield of charge-separation is observed for ZnPc-AuNp conjugate.
- TEM images evoke formation of particles having large diameter for ZnPc-AuNp system.

This letter envisages the photophysical insights on phthalocyanine (Pc)-gold nanoparticle (AuNp) conjugate in solution. Both steady state and time-resolved fluorescence studies evoke remarkable enhancement in energy transfer efficiency from ZnPc to AuNp in comparison to free-base Pc (H2Pc) in toluene. It is observed that in presence of AuNp, selectivity in binding for the non-covalent complex of H2Pc with PC70BM (a fullerene derivative) is found to be ∼3.0 times higher compared to ZnPc-PC70BM system. Dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscope, atomic force microscope and fluorescence microscope measurements provide very good support in favour of the rationale behind Pc-AuNp interaction in solution.

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