Size-Dependent Joule Heating of Gold Nanoparticles Using Capacitively Coupled Radiofrequency Fields

Capacitively coupled shortwave radiofrequency fields (13.56 MHz) resistively heat low concentrations (similar to 1 ppm) of gold nanoparticles with a thermal power dissipation of similar to 380 kW/g of gold. Smaller diameter gold nanoparticles (< 50 nm) heat at nearly twice the rate of larger diameter gold nanoparticles (>= 50 nm), which is attributed to the higher resistivity of smaller gold nanostructures. A Joule heating model has been developed to explain this phenomenon and provides critical insights into the rational design and engineering of nanoscale materials for noninvasive thermal therapy of cancer.