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Peer-reviewedCC BY 3.0RSC Advances

Gold–graphene quantum dot hybrid nanostructures for solar-to-chemical energy conversion: interfacial charge dynamics, hydrogen evolution, and water splitting

  • Chou-Yi Hsu1
  • Rosull Saadoon Abbood2
  • Hüseyin Kurt3
  • Wade Ghribi4
  • I. B. Sapaev5,6,7,8
  • Man Mohan Shukla9
  • Harvinder Singh Sohal10
  • Aseel Smerat11,12
  • Taraneh Hieunaz Chavoushi13
13 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Innovation, Yuan An BioResearch & Technology Co., Ltd Tainan 718004 Taiwan
  2. 2Medical Laboratory Techniques Department, College of Health and Medical Technology, University of Al-maarif Anbar Iraq
  3. 3Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul Aydin University Istanbul Türkiye
  4. 4Department of Computer Engineering, College of Computer Science, King Khalid University Al-Faraa Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  5. 5Head of the Department Physics and Chemistry, Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers National Research University Tashkent Uzbekistan
  6. 6Scientific Researcher of the University of Tashkent for Applied Science Uzbekistan
  7. 7School of Engineering, Central Asian University Tashkent 111221 Uzbekistan
  8. 8Western Caspian University, Scientific Researcher Baku Azerbaijan
  9. 9Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Pranveer Singh Institute of Technology Kanpur UP India
  10. 10Department of Chemistry, University Institute of Sciences, Chandigarh University Mohali Punjab India
  11. 11Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research, Al-Ahliyya Amman University Amman 19328 Jordan
  12. 12Department of Biosciences, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Chennai 602105 India
  13. 13Young Researchers and Elite Club, Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University Tehran Iran
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Abstract

Gold–graphene quantum dot (Au–GQD) hybrid nanostructures provide a versatile platform for coupling plasmonic light harvesting, quantum-confined carbon states, and interfacial redox activity in solar-to-chemical energy conversion. However, the field remains mechanistically fragmented, and the roles of Au, GQDs, and their evolving interface are often insufficiently distinguished. This review establishes a unified framework linking electronic structure, surface chemistry, interfacial coupling, photon utilization, excited-state partitioning, carrier transport, and surface redox turnover. It critically analyzes how Au size, GQD surface states, heteroatom functionality, contact geometry, and energetic alignment govern structure–property–performance relationships. Available evidence for hydrogen evolution and water splitting is examined alongside supporting studies on plasmonic absorption, hot-electron transfer, and type-II charge separation, while distinguishing direct solar-fuel conversion from indirect optical or photoelectronic responses. The synthesis reveals that productive performance depends not on simple component coexistence, but on function-specific interfacial organization and preservation of redox-competent carriers. Major limitations include inconsistent material identity, structural reconstruction, nonstandardized performance metrics, limited operando validation, and uncertain scalability. The review concludes with design priorities for stable, low-Au, spatially organized architectures and standardized evaluation pathways toward reproducible solar-fuel systems. This is the first dedicated review focusing specifically on Au–GQD hybrid nanostructures for solar-to-chemical energy conversion, providing an integrated analysis of their interfacial physicochemical properties and functional roles.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{hsu2026goldgraphene,
  title = {{Gold–graphene quantum dot hybrid nanostructures for solar-to-chemical energy conversion: interfacial charge dynamics, hydrogen evolution, and water splitting}},
  author = {Chou-Yi Hsu and Rosull Saadoon Abbood and Hüseyin Kurt and Wade Ghribi and I. B. Sapaev and Man Mohan Shukla and Harvinder Singh Sohal and Aseel Smerat and Taraneh Hieunaz Chavoushi},
  journal = {RSC Advances},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1039/d6ra06585f},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1039/d6ra06585f},
  note = {CC BY 3.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Gold–graphene quantum dot hybrid nanostructures for solar-to-chemical energy conversion: interfacial charge dynamics, hydrogen evolution, and water splitting
AU  - Chou-Yi Hsu
AU  - Rosull Saadoon Abbood
AU  - Hüseyin Kurt
AU  - Wade Ghribi
AU  - I. B. Sapaev
AU  - Man Mohan Shukla
AU  - Harvinder Singh Sohal
AU  - Aseel Smerat
AU  - Taraneh Hieunaz Chavoushi
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/26
JO  - RSC Advances
DO  - 10.1039/d6ra06585f
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1039/d6ra06585f
AB  - Gold–graphene quantum dot (Au–GQD) hybrid nanostructures provide a versatile platform for coupling plasmonic light harvesting, quantum-confined carbon states, and interfacial redox activity in solar-to-chemical energy conversion. However, the field remains mechanistically fragmented, and the roles of Au, GQDs, and their evolving interface are often insufficiently distinguished. This review establishes a unified framework linking electronic structure, surface chemistry, interfacial coupling, photon utilization, excited-state partitioning, carrier transport, and surface redox turnover. It critically analyzes how Au size, GQD surface states, heteroatom functionality, contact geometry, and energetic alignment govern structure–property–performance relationships. Available evidence for hydrogen evolution and water splitting is examined alongside supporting studies on plasmonic absorption, hot-electron transfer, and type-II charge separation, while distinguishing direct solar-fuel conversion from indirect optical or photoelectronic responses. The synthesis reveals that productive performance depends not on simple component coexistence, but on function-specific interfacial organization and preservation of redox-competent carriers. Major limitations include inconsistent material identity, structural reconstruction, nonstandardized performance metrics, limited operando validation, and uncertain scalability. The review concludes with design priorities for stable, low-Au, spatially organized architectures and standardized evaluation pathways toward reproducible solar-fuel systems. This is the first dedicated review focusing specifically on Au–GQD hybrid nanostructures for solar-to-chemical energy conversion, providing an integrated analysis of their interfacial physicochemical properties and functional roles.
SN  - 2046-2069
ER  -