Chapter 5: Copper Sulfide-based Nanomaterials for Photothermal Applications

Binary copper sulfides (Cu_2−xS) have been attracting enormous amounts of attention over the past decade due to their exceedingly useful properties, environmental compatibility, and widespread availability. At the nanoscale, their composition, size, and morphology can be tailored to enhance their performance in applications that involve photovoltaics, catalysis, energy storage, and biomedicine. Recently, they have been found to display remarkable photothermal properties because of their ability to strongly absorb near-infrared (NIR) light and effectively transform it into heat. This book chapter provides a summary of current research that explores the potential of copper sulfide-based nanomaterials as photothermal transduction agents. Special attention is given to the use of these photothermally responsive materials in cancer therapy. Synthetic strategies are discussed in detail, with focus on the synthesis of copper sulfide-based nanostructures with compositions, morphologies, and configurations that are beneficial to the enhancement of photothermal properties. Future directions in this area of research are also presented.