Engineering Gold Nanorod–Copper Sulfide Heterostructures with Enhanced Photothermal Conversion Efficiency and Photostability

Abstract

Plasmonic gold nanorods (Au NRs)-copper sulfide heterostructures have recently attracted much attention owing to the synergistically enhanced photothermal properties. However, the facile synthesis and interface tailoring of Au NRs-copper sulfide heterostructures remain a formidable challenge. In this study, the rational design and synthesis of Au NRs-Cu₇ S₄ heterostructures via a one-pot hydrothermal process is reported. Specifically, core-shell and dumbbell-like Au NRs-Cu₇ S₄ heterostructures are obtained with well-controlled interfaces by employing the Au NRs with different aspect ratios. Both core-shell and dumbbell-like Au NRs-Cu₇ S₄ have proven effective as photothermal therapy agents, which offer both high photothermal stability and significant photothermal conversion efficiency up to 62%. The finite-difference time domain simulation results confirm the coupling effect that leads to the enhanced local field as well as the optical absorption at the heterostructure interface. Importantly, these Au NRs-Cu₇ S₄ heterostructures can be compatibly used as an 808 nm laser-driven photothermal therapy agents for the efficient photothermal therapy of cancer cells in vitro. This study will provide new insight into the design of other noble metal-semiconductor heterostructures for a broad range of applications utilizing surface plasmon resonance enhancement phenomena.