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CW laser-induced photothermal conversion and shape transformation of gold nanodogbones in hydrated chitosan films

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Abstract

We investigate the photothermal conversion and transformation of gold nanoparticles with an initial dogbone shape after dispersion in hydrated chitosan films, which is a representative model of biological tissue, and excitation by a CW diode laser for 1 min. Gold nanodogbones are observed to undergo a distinct modification above a sharp threshold of ~11 W cm−2 and 110 °C. Surprisingly, the very same modification is achieved up to at least 36 W cm−2 and 250 °C. We use an analytical model derived from Gans theory to associate the change in color of the films with the change in shape statistics of these gold nanoparticles. This model proves both convenient and dependable. We interpret the photothermal transformation as a rearrangement of particles with a dogbone shape and an aspect ratio of 4.1 into rods with an aspect ratio of 2.5, where material from the end lobes of the dogbones may relocate to the waists of the rods. In turn, additional transitions to stable gold nanospheres may exhibit fairly slower kinetics.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Cosimo Trono for the refractometry measurements and Prof. Stefano Cavalieri for useful discussions. This work was supported by the NANO-TREAT and NANO-CHROM projects of the Health Board of Tuscany and the FP7 NoE Photonics 4 Life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Applied Physics, National Research Council of Italy, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy

    Fulvio Ratto, Paolo Matteini, Francesca Rossi & Roberto Pini

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Viale delle Idee 16, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy

    Alberto Cini

  3. Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy

    Sonia Centi & Franco Fusi

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  1. Fulvio Ratto
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  2. Paolo Matteini
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  3. Alberto Cini
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  5. Francesca Rossi
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  6. Franco Fusi
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  7. Roberto Pini
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Correspondence to Fulvio Ratto.

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Ratto, F., Matteini, P., Cini, A. et al. CW laser-induced photothermal conversion and shape transformation of gold nanodogbones in hydrated chitosan films. J Nanopart Res 13, 4337–4348 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0380-5

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