A hetero-oligophenylene derivative 3 has been designed and synthesized which forms fluorescent spherical aggregates in mixed aqueous media due to its aggregation-induced emission enhancement characteristics. These fluorescent aggregates act as a ratiometric probe for the detection of gold ions in aqueous media and serve as reactors and stabilizers for the preparation of gold nanoparticles. The in situ generated gold nanoparticles have been decorated on multiwalled carbon nanotubes to form AuNPs@MWCNTs nanohybrid materials, which serve as recyclable photocatalysts for carrying out degradation of rhodamine dye in aqueous media.
Keywords: AuNPs; AuNPs@MWCNTs nanohybrid; aggregation induced emission enhancement; hetero-oligophenylene; photocatalysis.