Stability of cetrimonium and silica modified gold nanorods/polyvinyl alcohol nano-composites upon near infrared laser excitation

We provide novel insight into the photothermal stability of different solutions of gold nanorods embedded in a semi-solid PVA environment, which may produce different effects with respect e.g. to the aqueous colloidal suspension. We investigate gold nanorods with different average dimensions and surface modifications (cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) and porous silica (p-silica)). Under near-infrared laser pulses between 20 ms and 20 s, the effective photothermal stability is higher in large than in small nanoparticles and in CTAB-protected than in p-silica-modified nanoparticles. At least up to ~200 °C there occurs only partial deformation of the gold nanorods with negligible formation of stable byproducts. We understand these results as the interplay of different factors, including the protection exerted from the semi-solid environment and the aggregation of the nanoparticles.

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