Understanding the Photothermal Conversion Efficiency of Gold Nanocrystals

Plasmon-based photothermal therapy is one of the most intriguing applications of noble metal nanostructures. The photothermal conversion efficiency is an essential parameter in practically realizing this application. The effects of the plasmon resonance wavelength, particle volume, shell coating, and assembly on the photothermal conversion efficiencies of Au nanocrystals are systematically studied by directly measuring the temperature of Au nanocrystal solutions with a thermocouple and analyzed on the basis of energy balance. The temperature of Au nanocrystal solutions reaches the maximum at ∼75 °C when the plasmon resonance wavelength of Au nanocrystals is equal to the illumination laser wavelength. For Au…