Aqueous phase synthesis of Au@Ag3AuX2 (X = Se, Te) core/shell nanocrystals and their broad NIR photothermal conversion application

Aqueous Au@Ag3AuX2 (X = Se, Te) core/shell nanocrystals (NCs) have been synthesized unprecedentedly by a controllable in situ conversion. The Au@Ag3AuTe2 NCs show a continuous broad NIR absorption from 700 to 1200 nm, thus exhibiting a good photothermal effect. The photothermal conversion efficiency can reach up to 76.7% and 49.6% at 808 and 1064 nm, respectively.