Self-transformation of ultra-small gold nanoclusters to gold nanocrystals toward boosted photoreduction catalysis.

Glutathione-protected Aux nanoclusters uniformly and intimately embedded at the interface of CdSe QDs and graphene were in situ self-transformed to Au nanocrystals (NCs) via a facile thermal reduction strategy. The inlaid Au NPs substantially accelerate the interfacial directional charge transfer toward multifarious photoreduction catalysis under visible light irradiation.