Few-atom gold nanoclusters (NCs) exhibit molecule-like properties due to a discrete electronic structure driven by the quantum confinement effect. Unlike plasmonic Au particles, these nonplasmonic particles of diameter less than 2 nm, commonly referred to as nanoclusters, possess a distinct excited-state behavior that can offer a new opportunity to employ them as a photosensitizer. Their size-dependent excited-state behavior enables establishing logical designing principles to build up efficient light energy conversion systems. The photodynamics of thiolated Au NCs and efforts to exploit the Au NCs in light energy conversion applications discussed in this Review show new opportunities to utilize them as photosensitizers. Current bottlenecks in implementing thiolated Au NCs in light conversion applications and new strategies and future directions to address these limitations are also discussed.

中文翻译：

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用于光能转化的硫代金纳米簇

很少有原子的金纳米团簇（NCs）表现出类似分子的特性，这是由于量子限制效应所驱动的离散电子结构所致。与等离子金颗粒不同，这些直径小于2 nm的非等离子颗粒（通常称为纳米团簇）具有独特的激发态行为，这为将其用作光敏剂提供了新的机会。它们与尺寸有关的激发态行为使得能够建立逻辑设计原理来构建有效的光能转换系统。本综述中讨论的硫醇化Au NCs的光动力学以及在光能转换应用中开发Au NCs的努力显示了将其用作光敏剂的新机会。