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Large-scale orientation dependent heating from a single irradiated gold nanorod
Haiyan Ma1, Poul M Bendix, Lene B Oddershede
1Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Nano Letters
|June 29, 2012
Summary
We measured extreme heating in gold nanorods using a new dye assay. High laser intensity caused nanorods to melt and lose their heating ability, changing their shape.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Gold nanorods exhibit unique photothermal properties.
- Understanding nanorod heating is crucial for applications like drug delivery and imaging.
- Quantifying heating effects under varying conditions is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the extreme heating of individual gold nanorods.
- To investigate the influence of laser polarization and nanorod orientation on heating.
- To explore the effects of high-illumination intensities on nanorod photothermal properties.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel assay based on lipophilic dye partitioning between membrane phases.
- Employed resonant irradiation of individual gold nanorods with lasers.
- Monitored temperature changes and structural alterations of nanorods.
Main Results:
- Quantified extreme temperature increases in gold nanorods upon resonant irradiation.
- Demonstrated sensitive dependence of heating on the angle between laser polarization and nanorod orientation.
- Observed a dramatic, irreversible decrease in heating at high intensities due to surface melting and restructuring.
Conclusions:
- Developed a sensitive method to measure nanorod heating.
- Heating is highly anisotropic and dependent on laser-nanorod alignment.
- High laser intensities induce irreversible structural changes, diminishing photothermal efficiency.
