Neutron-proton momentum correlation functions are constructed from a three-body photodisintegration channel,i.e.,core+n + p,and used to explore the spatial-time information of the non-clustering Woods-Saxon spherical structure as well as the α-clustering structures of 12C or 16O based on an extended quantum molecular dynamics model.The emission time sequence of neutrons and protons is indicated by the ratio of velocity-gated neutron-proton correlation functions,demonstrating its sensitivity to α-clustering structures.This work sheds light on a new probe for α-clustering structures.