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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