Spatially and temporally-resolved tryptophan fluorescence thermometry for monitoring the photothermal processes of gold nanorod suspensions

Publication date: Available online 31 August 2017
Source:Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Author(s): Chia-Te Lin, Kuan-Jen Chen, Ke-Chia Tseng, Li-Kang Chu
We constructed a confocal fluorescent thermometer to monitor the spatial and temporal temperature evolutions of gold nanorod suspensions upon continuous-wave infrared excitation. Tryptophan served as the fluorophore due to its superior temperature dependent fluorescence intensity, ca. −2% °C⁻¹. We provided sufficient spatial resolution of 50μm and temperature sensitivity of 0.3°C. Coupled with an infrared thermocamera, we were able to obtain simultaneously the temperature evolutions in the bulk solution and on the container surface. Employment of this noncontact and optical approach allows investigation of the thermal distribution in a minute volume, less than 1 mm³, without the additional perturbative factors of the mechanical thermometers, e.g., the thermal conductivity and volume of the sensor.

Graphical abstract

http://ift.tt/2wpsJpr