Enhanced sensitized NIR luminescence from gold nanoparticles via energy transfer from surface-bound fluorophores

The low quantum yield of luminescence in the NIR region of small (1.8 nm) gold nanoparticles stabilized with triphenylphosphine (TPP) increases by at least 2 orders of magnitude when TPP is replaced with a pyrene derivative. Very efficient energy transfer from the bound fluorophores to the gold core was observed, leading to a strong sensitized emission.