title: Gold-copper nanostars as photo-thermal agents: synthesis and advanced electron microscopy characterization.
abstract: Nanoalloys have emerged as multi-functional nanoparticles with applications in biomedicine and catalysis. This work reports the efficient production and the advanced transmission electron microscopy characterization of gold-copper pentagonal nanostars. The morphology of the branches is controlled by the adequate choice of the capping agent. When oleylamine is used rounded nanostars are produced, while pointed nanostars are obtained by using hexadecylamine. Both types of nanostars were proved to be thermally stable and could therefore be used as therapeutic agents in photo-thermal therapies as confirmed by the near-infrared absorption spectra.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA. gregory.guisbiers@physics.org.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bazán-Díaz
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Cruz
authors.forename: J Jesús
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Velázquez-Salazar
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Plascencia-Villa
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romeu
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reyes-Gasga
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrera-Becerra
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: José-Yacamán
authors.forename: Grégory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guisbiers
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D003300:Copper