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Turning gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) into nanoscale heat sources via light irradiation has prompted significant research interest, particularly for biomedical applications, over the past few decades. The AuNP’s tunable photothermal effect, notable biocompatibility, and ability to serve as vehicles for temperature-sensitive chemical linkers enable thermo-therapeutics, such as localized drug/gene delivery and thermal ablation of cancerous tissue. Thermal transport in aqueous AuNP solutions stands as the fundamental challenge to developing targeted thermal therapies; thus, this review article surveys recent advancements in our understanding of heat transfer and surface chemistry in AuNPs, with a particular focus on thermal boundary conductance across gold- and functionalized-gold-water interfaces. This review article highlights computational advances based on molecular dynamics simulations that offer valuable insights into nanoscopic interfacial heat transfer in solvated interfaces, particularly for chemically functionalized AuNPs. Additionally, it outlines current experimental techniques for measuring interfacial thermal transport, their limitations, and potential pathways to improve sensitivity. This review further examines computational methodologies to guide the accurate modeling of solvated gold interfaces. Finally, it concludes with a discussion of future research directions aimed at deepening our understanding of interfacial heat transfer in solvated AuNPs, crucial to optimize thermoplasmonic applications.
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Optical Actuation of Nanoparticle-Loaded Liquid–Liquid Interfaces for Active Photonics
Liquid–liquid interfaces hold the potential to serve as versatile platforms for dynamic processes, due to their inherent fluidity and capacity to accommodate surface-active materials. This study explores laser-driven actuation of liquid–liquid interfaces with and without loading of gold nanoparticles and further exploits the laser-actuated interfaces with nanoparticles for tunable photonics. Upon laser exposure, gold nanoparticles were rearranged along the interface, enabling the reconfigurable, small-aperture modulation of light transmission and the tunable lensing effect. Adapting the principles of optical and optothermal tweezers, we interpreted the underlying mechanisms of actuation and modulation as a synergy of optomechanical and optothermal effects. Our findings provide an analytical framework for understanding microscopic interfacial behaviors, contributing to potential applications in tunable photonics and interfacial material engineering.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2001650
- PAR ID:
- 10563132
- Publisher / Repository:
- American Chemical Society
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- ACS Nano
- Volume:
- 18
- Issue:
- 24
- ISSN:
- 1936-0851
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 15627 to 15637
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c01227
