Cu7S4 Nanosuperlattices with Greatly Enhanced Photothermal Efficiency

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 11; no. 33; pp. 4183 - 4190
• Main Authors: Cui, Jiabin, Jiang, Rui, Xu, Suying, Hu, Gaofei, Wang, Leyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: copper chalcogenides; copper sulfides; copper sulfides, nanostructures; Efficiency; nanostructures; Nanotechnology; photothermal efficiency; photothermal therapy
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201500845

According to the simulation, the self‐assembly of Cu7S4 nanocrystals would enhance the photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) because of the localized surface plasmon resonance effects, which is highly desirable for photothermal therapy (PTT). A new strategy to synthesize Cu7S4 nanosuperlattices with greatly enhanced PCE up to 65.7% under irradiation of 808 nm near infrared light is reported here. By tuning the surface properties of Cu7S4 nanocrystals during the synthesis via thermolysis of a new single precursor, dispersed nanoparticles (NPs), rod‐like alignments, and nanosuperlattices are obtained, respectively. To explore their PTT applications, these hydrophobic nanostructures are transferred into water by coating with home‐made amphiphilic polymer while maintaining their original structures. Under identical conditions, the PCE are 48.62% and 56.32% for dispersed NPs and rod‐like alignments, respectively. As expected, when the nanoparticles are self‐assembled into nanosuperlattices, the PCE is greatly enhanced up to 65.7%. This strong PCE, along with their excellent photothermal stability and good biocompatibility, renders these nanosuperlattices good candidates as PTT agents. In vitro photothermal ablation performances have undoubtedly proved the excellent PCE of our Cu7S4 nanosuperlattices. This research offers a versatile and effective solution to get PTT agents with high photothermal efficiency. A new strategy to synthesize Cu7S4 nanocrystals and greatly enhance the photothermal conversion efficiency up to 65.7% under irradiation of 808 nm near‐infrared light by fabricating the Cu7S4 nanosuperlattices is reported.