Triton X-100 for three-plasmon gold nanostars with two photothermally active NIR (near IR) and SWIR (short-wavelength IR) channels

Five-branched gold nanostars are obtained using Triton X-100 in a seed-growth synthesis. They have the uncommon feature of two intense localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) in the 600–900 and 1100–1600 nm ranges. Both LSPRs convert laser radiation into heat, offering two photothermally active channels in the NIR and SWIR ranges.