Cu2-xSx Capped AuCu Nanostars for Efficient Plasmonic Photothermal Tumor Treatment in the Second Near-Infrared Window

Plasmonic nanohybrids are promising photo energy conversion materials in photoelectronics and biomedicine, due to their unique surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Au and Cu2-xSx nanostructures with strong SPR in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region are classic plasmonic systems used to convert NIR photons into heat for photothermal therapy (PTT). The rational design of the Au/Cu2-xSx nanohybrids is expected to induce better photothermal conversion; however, the construction of such hybrids via wet-chemistry methods with a well-controlled interfacial structure is still challenging. Here, the synthesis of an AuCu Star/Cu-2 S--x(x) nanohybrid is reported, where the Cu2-xSx components are selectively grown on the AuCu nanostar tips to form "caps". The spatial formation of the Cu2-xSx caps on star tips is mainly governed by surfactant concentration, tip curvature, and experimental manipulation. The nanohybrids show low cytotoxicity and superior photothermal conversion efficiency, enabling robust PTT to kill cancer cells in the second NIR window. Numerical simulation reveals that the coupling of Cu2-xSx on nanostar tips generates strong interfacial electric field, improving photothermal conversion. Moreover, the spatial separation structure favors the continuous flow of hot charge carriers to produce active radicals, further promoting the tumor treatment effect.