Surface plasmon resonances enhanced click chemistry through synergistic photothermal and hot electron effects.

Surface plasmon resonances of Au nanoparticles were shown to enhance a copper catalyzed 1,3-dipolar azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction, through synergistic photothermal and hot electron effects. By improving hot electron utilization with Au-CuO nanohybrids, efficient azide-alkyne cycloaddition has been realized under ambient conditions without using conventional heating and a chemical reducing agent.