Visible-light driven photodegradation on Ag nanoparticle-embedded fullerene (C60) heterostructural microcubes

Three-dimensional Ag(I)-fullerene hybrid microcrystal is fabricated by AgNO3 assisted liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation, containing the abundant sp2-π-electron system. With a mild chemical reduction, it produces the massive Ag nanocluster/fullerene junctions, on which fullerene doubles role as the excellent electron acceptor and photon scavenger, enabling the Plasmon-driven catalytic reaction. Ag nanocluster employed alone could not perform this photocatalytic reaction, neither of fullerene (C60) crystal. It implicates that Ag-fullerene interface is a key to drive catalytic process. Relative to conventional TiO2 nanostructures, fullerene expands light absorption to most solar wavelength and possesses a tightened bandgap which intrinsically expedites the charge transfer and charge separation from coinage metals. Demonstrated by photodegradation of organic molecules, this Ag(I)-fullerene (C60) composite, consisted of a plethora of electron donor-acceptor dyads renders an additional member to photocatalyst family, potentially implemented for photo-electron conversion, water remedy and beyond. [Display omitted] •Fabricate AgNO3-encapsulated fullerene microcubes without ligands.•Drive Plasmonic photodegradation on Ag-fullerene hybrid.•Reveal the catalytic intermediates by mass spectrometry.•Reorganize Ag-fullerene crystal to nanoporous texture by Ag removal.