Predictable and adjustable broadband gold nanorods for photothermal effects and foldable performances

Abstract Colloidal gold nanorods (GNRs) have demonstrated their potential to absorb light within specific wavelength bands and induce photothermal effects. However, the unpredictability and lack of adjustability in the broadband spectrum formed by the self-assembly of gold nanospheres or the coupling of various sizes of GNRs have posed significant challenges. To address this, we have developed broadband GNRs (BGNRs) with a predictable and adjustable extinction band in the visible and near-infrared regions. The BGNRs were synthesized by simply mixing GNRs with different aspect ratios, allowing for control over the bandwidths and positions of the extinction bands. Subsequently, the BGNRs were coated with silica and underwent surface modification. The resulting BGNRs@SiO₂ were then mixed with either polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to create BGNRs@SiO₂/PDMS (or PVDF) films. The BGNRs@SiO₂/PDMS and BGNRs@SiO₂/PVDF films both exhibit excellent photothermal performance properties. Additionally, the light absorption intensity of the BGNRs@SiO₂/PVDF film linearly increases upon folding, leading to significantly enhanced photothermal performance after folding. This work demonstrates that plasmonic colloidal GNRs, without the need for coupling, can yield predictable and adjustable extinction bands. This finding holds great promise for future development and practical applications, particularly in the transfer of these properties to films.