Perylenetetracarboxylic acid–incorporated silver nanocluster for cost-effective visible-light-driven photocatalysis and catalytic reduction

Herein, we demonstrated photocatalytic applications of organic semiconductor (perylenetetracarboxylic acid (PTCA))–incorporated silver nanocluster in the degradation of a model dye (malachite green) using a low-cost and energy-efficient visible LED light source. The utility of this material in the catalytic reduction of MG dye in the presence of a reducing agent (i.e. NaBH4) is also evaluated. This nanocluster was prepared using a facile one-pot methodology utilising biocompatible captopril and PTCA as protecting ligands. In this synthetic protocol, tetraoctylammonium bromide facilitates the cation induced aggregation process. It was characterised by UV-Vis, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques. HRTEM and EDX spectroscopy confirms the average diameter of the nanocluster to be 2.9 ±1 nm and the presence of N, C, S, O and Ag as the main elements respectively. As revealed in photocatalysis, the model dye malachite green (MG) was degraded by ~80% in 52 min. The kinetics of catalytic reduction reaction of MG in the presence of a reducing agent sodium borohydride reveals an acceleration of the reduction of MG in the presence of as-prepared PTCA/AgNC compared to having no catalyst. Superior water solubility and stable colloidal dispersion of the as-prepared nanocluster allowed highly efficient catalysis in homogenous conditions. Furthermore, it can find a wide range of potential applications in catalysis, sensors and organic field-effect transistor.