Near-Infrared Light-Activated CuFeSe2 Hierarchical Nanostructures: Synthesis, Characterization, and Growth Mechanism

Near-infrared light-activated nanomaterials are of promising potential for phototherapies and biological imaging applications. Despite that well-developed syntheses are available for zero-dimensional CuFeSe2 nanoparticles, the synthesis of two-dimensional CuFeSe2 nanosheets remains a big challenge. Here, we report for the first time the preparation of CuFeSe2 hierarchical nanostructures assembled from nanosheets via a facile cation exchange method. A possible formation mechanism of CuFeSe2 hierarchical nanostructures has been proposed. By carefully optimizing reaction parameters, including growth and exchange times as well as the initial reactant ratios, high-quality CuFeSe2 hierarchical nanostructures are achieved, exhibiting an intense photoabsorption region from 400 to 1700 nm. This study sheds light on a new approach to design and develop the near-infrared light-activatable CuFeSe2 hierarchical nanostructures as multifunctional nanomaterials potential for the imaging-guided photothermal therapy of tumors.