One-pot synthesis of uniform Au@Porphyrin core–shell nanoparticles with enhanced photocurrent

• Au@THPP core–shell hybrid nanoparticle was synthesized by single one-pot method. • Au@THPP core–shell nanostructures showed steady reproducible and stronger photocurrent. • Au@THPP core–shell nanostructures were expected to be applied as sensor, photoelectronic devices and photosensitizer. We report one-pot synthesis of uniform Au@Porphyrin core–shell nanoparticles, which presented stronger photocurrent. The results showed it was a rapidly nucleation process to form Au NPs, and the THPP matrix inside Au NPs was polymerized by SEM, TEM, HRTEM, EFTEM, XPS and FT-IR. Due to the solvent effect in mix solvent, Au@THPP nanoparticles was dispersed well. This stronger photocurrent was rooted in the direct coupling effect of π electron of the porphyrin ring and surface plasmon of Au NPs.