Excellent Photothermal Properties Research Articles

Reprocessing and reconfigurable shape recovery of epoxy and Fe3O4 nanocomposites enabled by crosslinking with a polymeric hardener bearing disulfide bonds

In this contribution, we reported the preparation of the nanocomposites of epoxy with Fe3O4 with poly(α-lipoic acid) (PLA) as a polymeric crosslinker. It was found that the surface reaction between Fe3O4 nanoparticles and the macromolecular crosslinker significantly facilitated the fine dispersion of the inorganic nanoparticles. In the meantime, dynamic disulfide bonds were successfully introduced into the nanocomposites. Therefore, the nanocomposites displayed the excellent reprocessing (recycling) properties. In addition, the nanocomposites had the shape memory properties; the original shapes of the shape memory nanocomposites can be reprogrammed via the exchange of dynamic disulfide bonds. Owing to the incorporation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, the nanocomposites possessed the excellent paramagnetic and photothermal properties. Furthermore, the photothermal properties can be utilized to trigger the shape recovery in a non-contact fashion.

White-Light-Responsive Prussian Blue Nanophotonic Particles for Effective Eradication of Bacteria and Improved Healing of Infected Cutaneous Wounds.

The increasing burden of cutaneous wound infections with drug-resistant bacteria underlines the dire need for novel treatment approaches. Here, we report the preparation steps, characterization, and antibacterial efficacy of novel chitosan-coated Prussian blue nanoparticles loaded with the photosensitizer fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (CHPB-FD). With excellent photothermal and photodynamic properties, CHPB-FD nanoparticles can effectively eradicate both Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro and in vivo. The antibacterial efficacy of CHPB-FD nanophotonic particles further increases in the presence of white light. Using a bacteria-infected cutaneous wound rat model, we demonstrate that CHPB-FD particles upregulate genes involved in tissue remodeling, promote collagen deposition, reduce unwanted inflammation, and enhance healing. The light-responsive CHPB-FD nanophotonic particles can, therefore, be potentially used as an economical and safe alternative to antibiotics for effectively decontaminating skin wounds and for disinfecting biomedical equipment and surfaces in hospitals and other places.

Anti-frosting and defrosting on photothermal superhydrophobic coatings based on silane hydrolysis and carbon nanotube doping

Condensation frosting on solid surfaces is a common phenomenon in nature and industry, and the covered frost layer is harmful to many applications, so it is necessary to take appropriate measures to anti-frosting and defrosting. Here, based on the hydrolytic condensation reaction of organosilane derivative octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS), by doping carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a photothermal superhydrophobic coating solution was prepared and then sprayed on a copper substrate to obtain a photothermal superhydrophobic coating, labeled as Cu-OTS + CNT. The light absorptivity in the full spectral range of Cu-OTS + CNT can reach 96.3%, which exhibits excellent photothermal conversion properties. The effects of Cu-OTS + CNT in delaying frosting and promoting melting are also explored by experiments. During the condensation frosting stage, Cu-OTS + CNT can not only detach the droplets from the surface by spontaneous droplet jumping, but also increase the surface temperature, resulting in slower droplet growth, which further reduces the area covered by the droplets and inhibits the propagation of the frost front, thereby retarding the formation of the frost layer. In the frost melting stage, Cu-OTS + CNT can effectively shorten the time of frost melting and significantly reduce the coverage of melting droplets. The proposed photothermal superhydrophobic coating preparation method is convenient and efficient, without fluorination modification, and has prominent effects on both delaying frost formation and promoting frost melting, which shall provide inspirations for advanced anti-frosting technology.

Facile Preparation of Hydrogel-Coated Surfaces with Antifouling and Salt Resistance for Efficient Solar-Driven Water Evaporation.

Hydrogel-based evaporators are a promising strategy to obtain freshwater from seawater and sewage. However, the time-consuming and energy-consuming methods used in hydrogel preparation, as well as their limited scalability, are major factors that hinder the development of a hydrogel-based evaporator. Herein, a facile and scalable strategy was designed to prepare a hydrogel-coated evaporator to realize efficient solar-driven water evaporation. The hydrogel coating layer is composed of a robust 3D network formed by tannic acid (TA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) through a hydrogen bond. With the assistance of TA surface modifier, carbon black (CB) is uniformly distributed within the hydrogel matrix, endowing the coating with remarkable photothermal properties. In addition, Fe3+ is deposited on the surface of the hydrogel coating through metal coordination with TA, further improving the light absorption of the coating. Due to the synergistic effect of CB and Fe3+, the hydrogel-coated foam exhibited excellent photothermal properties. The water evaporation rate reached 3.64 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun irradiation. Because of the hydration ability of PVA hydrogel and the large porous structure of the foam, the hydrogel-coated foam demonstrated excellent antifouling performance and salt resistance. This study provides a facile method for designing and manufacturing high-performance solar-driven water evaporation materials.

A Sonoresponsive and NIR-II-Photoresponsive Nanozyme for Heterojunction-Enhanced "Three-in-One" Multimodal Oncotherapy.

Although low-cost nanozymes with excellent stability have demonstrated the potential to be highly beneficial for nanocatalytic therapy (NCT), their unsatisfactory catalytic activity accompanied by intricate tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly hinders the therapeutic effect of NCT. Herein, for the first time, a heterojunction (HJ)-fabricated sonoresponsive and NIR-II-photoresponsive nanozyme is reported by assembling carbon dots (CDs) onto TiCN nanosheets. The narrow bandgap and mixed valences of Ti3+ and Ti4+ endow TiCN with the capability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) when exposed to ultrasound (US), as well as the dual enzyme-like activities of peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase. Moreover, the catalytic activities and sonodynamic properties of the TiCN nanosheets are boosted by the formation of HJs owing to the increased speed of carrier transfer and the enhanced electron-hole separation. More importantly, the introduction of CDs with excellent NIR-II photothermal properties could achieve mild hyperthermia (43°C) and thereby further improve the NCT and sonodynamic therapy (SDT) performances of CD/TiCN. The synergetic therapeutic efficacy of CD/TiCN through mild hyperthermia-amplified NCT and SDT could realize "three-in-one" multimodal oncotherapy to completely eliminate tumors without recurrence. This study opens a new avenue for exploring sonoresponsive and NIR-II-photoresponsive nanozymes for efficient tumor therapy based on semiconductor HJs.

Mild-Photothermal Effect Induced High Efficiency Ferroptosis-Boosted-Cuproptosis Based on Cu2 O@Mn3 Cu3 O8 Nanozyme.

A core-shell-structured Cu2 O@Mn3 Cu3 O8 (CMCO) nanozyme is constructed to serve as a tumor microenvironment (TME)-activated copper ionophore to achieve safe and efficient cuproptosis. The Mn3 Cu3 O8 shell not only prevents exposure of normal tissues to the Cu2 O core to reduce systemic toxicity but also exhibits enhanced enzyme-mimicking activity owing to the better band continuity near the Fermi surface. The glutathione oxidase (GSHOx)-like activity of CMCO depletes glutathione (GSH), which diminishes the ability to chelate Cu ions, thereby exerting Cu toxicity and inducing cuproptosis in cancer cells. The catalase (CAT)-like activity catalyzes the overexpressed H2 O2 in the TME, thereby generating O2 in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to enhance cuproptosis. More importantly, the Fenton-like reaction based on the release of Mn ions and the inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4 induced by the elimination of GSH results in ferroptosis, accompanied by the accumulation of lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species that can cleave stress-induced heat shock proteins to compromise their protective capacity of cancer cells and further sensitize cuproptosis. CMCO nanozymes are partially sulfurized by hydrogen sulfide in the colorectal TME, exhibiting excellent photothermal properties and enzyme-mimicking activity. The mild photothermal effect enhances the enzyme-mimicking activity of the CMCO nanozymes, thus inducing high-efficiency ferroptosis-boosted-cuproptosis.

Photothermal Superhydrophobic Cotton Fabric Based on Silver Nanoparticles Cross-Linked by Polydopamine and Polyethylenimide.

Photothermal materials that can convert solar energy into heat energy through photothermal conversion have attracted extensive attention, but these materials are easily polluted by the environment. Here, we propose a simple and effective strategy for constructing photothermal superhydrophobic cotton fabrics with self-cleaning ability. The PDA@PEI@GA@Ag@PDMS-coated cotton fabric can achieve good superhydrophobicity (water contact angle: 159.6°) by a simple dipping method and mussel-inspired dopamine surface modification, which is regulated by the mass of dopamine, the mass of silver nitrate, and the concentration of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The coated cotton fabric has good physical and chemical stability. Meanwhile, the coated cotton fabric has excellent self-cleaning and antifouling properties. The superhydrophobic PDA@PEI@GA@Ag@PDMS fabric exhibits excellent and stable photothermal properties, with the surface temperature reaching 70.4 °C under simulated sunlight with a current of 20 A. This photothermal superhydrophobic fabric with self-cleaning properties is expected to be applied in the field of photothermal conversion.

Bacterial metabolism-triggered-chemiluminescence-based point-of-care testing platform for sensitive detection and photothermal inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus

Post-operative pathogenic infections in liver transplantation seriously threaten human health. It is essential to develop novel methods for the highly sensitive and rapid detection of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Interestingly, the combination of the property of bacteria to secrete hydrogen peroxidase, bacterial metabolism-triggered-chemiluminescence (CL)-based bioassays can be as a candidate point-of-care testing (POCT) for the detection of S. aureus against the CL substrate Luminol and hydrogen peroxide without excitation light sources. Here, a CL-based strategy with stable and visualized CL intensity was fabricated according to a hybrid biomimetic enzyme of copper-Hemin metal-organic framework, which enhances the biological enzyme activity while improving the stability and sensitivity of the assay. By further integrating S. aureus-specific capture and one-step separation of the antibody-modified Fe3O4 NPs (Fe3O4 NPs@Ab), the portable device integrated smartphone enables CL-based POCT for specific detection of S. aureus in the range of 101–106 CFU/mL with a limit of detection as low as 1 CFU/mL. Specifically, S. aureus can be eliminated after detection with high antibacterial efficiency due to the excellent photothermal properties of Fe3O4 NPs@Ab. The developed multifunctional platform has the advantages of simplicity of operation and low cost, indicating great potential in clinical applications.

Three-Dimensional Spiral Evaporator with Side Channels for Efficient Solar-Driven Water Purification.

Solar evaporators have the advantages of not consuming fossil fuels, being environmentally friendly, and nonpolluting, offering a promising sustainable method to obtain fresh water and alleviate the worldwide freshwater shortage crisis. In this work, we report that high-performance solar evaporators can be facilely fabricated by processing a cost-effective polypyrrole (PPy)-coated nonwoven fabric (PCNF) into a three-dimensional (3D) spiral structure and introducing side channels for vapor escape. The coated PPy layer ensures excellent photothermal properties and the chemical stability of the evaporator. Meanwhile, the as-created spiral structure of the evaporator can significantly increase the effective evaporation area and harvest energy from the environment, greatly stimulating the evaporation. The side opening channels can effectively facilitate the escape of vapor generated inside the 3D spiral structure, avoid the internal vapor accumulation, and ultimately promote the evaporation of the inner surface, leading to a boost of the evaporation performance. Combining these features, the resulting evaporator exhibits an ultrahigh evaporation rate of 3.26 kg m-2 h-1 and an energy efficiency of 138% under 1-sun irradiation. More importantly, we show that this evaporator can also be used to collect fresh water from soil and sand, demonstrating its great applicability for obtaining potable water in arid areas.

Neodymium and manganese ions co-doped whitlockite for temperature monitoring, photothermal therapy, and bone tissue repair in osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is one of the most dangerous forms of tumors, leading to death in >90% of patients. The surgical treatment of osteosarcoma results in significant bone defects and risks of tumor recurrence. Using neodymium (Nd) and manganese (Mn) ions co-doped with whitlockite nanoparticle (Nd10%Mn10%WH NPs) and sodium alginate (SA), we designed and synthesized an organic–inorganic composite hydrogel (Nd10%Mn10%WH-SA) that displayed the excellent fluorescence and photothermal properties. Furthermore, the maximum fluorescence emission intensity of Nd10%Mn10%WH-SA at 1062 nm was linear with temperature. The optimal temperature for the treatment of tumors was determined by considering the changes in fluorescence intensity that led to a reduction in tissue damage around the tumors. Nd10%Mn10%WH NPs demonstrated a significant function in promoting human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) proliferation. Furthermore, Nd10%Mn10%WH-SA could almost kill tumors when the photothermal temperature was raised to 50 °C, with a minimal leftover scar after photothermal therapy (PTT). Nd10%Mn10%WH-SA had a better promotion effect on the growth of the new bone. These results suggested that Nd10%Mn10%WH-SA offers a new PTT method for the “integrated treatment and repair” of osteosarcoma.

Biomass aerogel composite containing BaTiO3 nanoparticles and MXene for highly sensitive self-powered sensor and photothermal antibacterial applications

Biomass aerogel materials are increasingly attracting researchers’ attention because of good biocompatibility of biomass materials and multiple functional features of aerogel materials. Herein, novel biomass aerogel composite was fabricated by doping hydroxylated barium titanate (BT-OH) nanoparticles and MXene in chitosan/bacterial cellulose (CB) aerogel by simple methods containing chemical modification, physical mixture and lyophilization. The novel aerogel composite named CB/BT-OH/MXene showed favorable piezoelectric properties and excellent photothermal antibacterial properties. The aerogel composite-based piezoelectric sensor displayed short response time (0.4 s), high response sensitivity (800 mV/N), and long cycle stability (over 1000 cycles), which could monitor various body movements, including fingers bending, speaking, wrist bending, elbow bending, smiling, and walking. Moreover, the aerogel composite possessed satisfactory photothermal conversion ability, which could reach 55 ℃ by 10 s of near-infrared irradiation (808 nm, 0.2 W/cm2), successfully achieving complete sterilization effect towards S. aureus and E. coli. The novel biomass aerogel composite may find its potential applications in wearable or implantable self-powered sensors with satisfactory antibacterial performance.

Bio-inspired robust and highly thermal conductive BNNS/PBO nanofiber composite films with excellent thermal stability, wear resistance, and adjustable photothermal properties

Bio-inspired robust and highly thermal conductive BNNS/PBO nanofiber composite films with excellent thermal stability, wear resistance, and adjustable photothermal properties

Designing Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Polystyrene Sulfonate/Graphene Oxide/Graphene Nanosheet/Polyethylene Glycol Phase-Change Composites with Superior Thermal Management for Photo-thermoelectric Generators.

Recently, growing interest in self-powered devices has led to the invention of new energy conversion devices. Photo-thermoelectric generators (PTEGs) have rapidly developed for their ability to harvest both light and thermal energy, but these devices are overly dependent on the continuity of energy input and cannot sustain output in an emergency situation. In the current study, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)/graphene oxide (GO)/graphene nanosheets (GNPs)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) phase-change composites (PCCs) were prepared with freeze-drying and vacuum-filling processes to acquire materials suitable for imparting energy storage characteristics to PTEGs. The melting and crystallization enthalpies of the PCCs fabricated based on the PEDOT:PSS/GO/GNP aerogels can reach 211.5 and 207.6 J g-1, respectively, which increase by nearly 5% compared with pure PEG, and the growth rate of thermal conductivity of the composites is as high as 262.7% (1.12 W m-1 K-1). Meanwhile, the excellent photothermal properties and high-temperature shape stability that pure PEG does not possess can also be imparted to PCCs by the aerogels. The PTEG assembled with PCCs and thermoelectric components can achieve a continuous output of over 1500 s after 300 s of light irradiation. After integrating the output of the device during the lamp on/off period, it is found that the total output of the device during the light-off period (8.4 V and 9.6 mW) can far exceed its total output during the light-on period (2.7 V and 4.4 mW). This work provides guidance for modulating the performance of PCCs and giving PTEGs the ability to operate under emergency or extremely harsh conditions and the prepared PTEGs are highly promising for practical use.

MXene/aramid nanofiber films enables highly efficient photothermal conversion for solar-driven water evaporation

Efficient utilization of solar energy is a resultful strategy to solve the problem of shortage of traditional fossil energy. Solar-driven water evaporation is considered as an effective, low-cost, renewable, and environment-friendly technology for clean water production. Herein, a novel MXene/ANF composite film was fabricated by facile vacuum filtration method. Benefiting from the excellent photothermal conversion property of MXene and the flexibility and stability of ANF, the MXene/ANF composite film exhibits high-efficient photothermal conversion and water evaporation ability. The as-prepared MXene/ANF composite film can reach as high as 98.0 °C at the laser power density of 1 kW/m2 and 54.0 °C under the solar power density of 1 kW/m2. Meanwhile, the water evaporation of MXene/ANF composite film can reach 1.432 kg/m2 under the solar power density of 1 kW/m2. Therefore, the MXene/ANF composite films possess a good prospect to be applied as a solar-driven water evaporation device to solve the problem of shortage of traditional fossil energy and inadequate freshwater supply.

Enhanced solar photothermal anti-/de-icing performance of microstructured polypropylene/graphene composite surfaces with diameter- and density-optimized nanopillars

Ice formation significantly hinders human productivity and daily life. Photothermal de-icing materials offer a promising solution for solar energy applications. Anodized Al oxide foils with diameter- and density-optimized micro/nanostructured pores were used as templates to prepare photothermal polypropylene/graphene (PP/GP) composites with varying GP contents through compression molding. The impact of the GP content on the absorption rate, photothermal properties, and anti-/de-icing performance of the PP/GP composites were systematically investigated. The transmittance at a GP content > 1 % was nearly zero. The reflectivity and absorbance of the PP/GP content increased and decreased, respectively, with an increasing GP content. The temperature of the center of the PP/GP composite stabilized at approximately 94 °C after 5 min of light exposure, and the de-icing time was 70 s. This innovative approach integrates superhydrophobicity with excellent photothermal conversion properties, enabling effective ice prevention in cold environments with prolonged icing completion times (214 s).

A Versatile PDA(DOX) Nanoplatform for Chemo-Photothermal Synergistic Therapy against Breast Cancer and Attenuated Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a highly clinical application promising cancer treatment strategy with safe, convenient surgical procedures and excellent therapeutic efficacy on superficial tumors. However, a single PTT is difficult to eliminate tumor cells completely, and tumor recurrence and metastasis are prone to occur in the later stage. Chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy can conquer the shortcomings by further killing residual tumor cells after PTT through systemic chemotherapy. Nevertheless, chemotherapy drugs' extreme toxicity is also a problematic issue to be solved, such as anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Herein, we selected polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA) as the carrier of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) to construct a versatile PDA(DOX) nanoplatform for chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy against breast cancer and simultaneously attenuated DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). The excellent photothermal properties of PDA were used to achieve the thermal ablation of tumors. DOX carried out chemotherapy to kill residual and occult distant tumors. Furthermore, the PDA(DOX) nanoparticles significantly alleviate DIC, which benefits from PDA's excellent antioxidant enzyme activity. The experimental data of the chemotherapy groups showed that the results of the PDA(DOX) group were much better than the DOX group. This study not only effectively inhibits cancer but tactfully attenuates DIC, bringing a new perspective into synergistic therapy against breast cancer.Graphical

Engineering Near‐Infrared Plasmonic Spiky Gold Nanostructures for Highly Efficient Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy‐Guided Cancer Hyperthermia Therapy

AbstractCancer phototheranostics utilizing plasmonic materials is attracting considerable interest due to its high spatiotemporal precision and specificity, remote controllability, superior therapeutic efficacy, and low systemic side effects. Exploring new plasmonic materials with excellent plasmonic and photothermal properties is at the frontier of cancer phototheranostics. Herein, this work systematically investigates the plasmonic and photothermal properties of spiky Au nanoparticles (NPs) with different shaped central cores – spiky Au nanosphere , spiky Au nanocube and spiky Au nanorod (AuNR). It is shown that the shape of the central core in spiky Au NPs has significant effects on their surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and photothermal performances, and spiky Au NPs of a spherical or cubic core are much superior for near‐infrared (NIR) SERS detection and hyperthermia therapy in comparison with spiky AuNRs. The spiky Au NP‐based SERS probes demonstrate the remarkable capability for SERS imaging of live cells and dynamic visualization of tumors in a 4T1 breast tumor mouse model after intravenous administration. Moreover, in vivo studies show exceptional hyperthermia therapeutic effects of such SERS probes against 4T1 breast tumors under NIR irradiation. This study suggests the potential utility of spiky Au NP‐based SERS probes for efficient SERS‐guided cancer hyperthermia therapy.

Recent Progress of Copper-Based Nanomaterials in Tumor-Targeted Photothermal Therapy/Photodynamic Therapy.

Nanotechnology, an emerging and promising therapeutic tool, may improve the effectiveness of phototherapy (PT) in antitumor therapy because of the development of nanomaterials (NMs) with light-absorbing properties. The tumor-targeted PTs, such as photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), transform light energy into heat and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that accumulate at the tumor site. The increase in ROS levels induces oxidative stress (OS) during carcinogenesis and disease development. Because of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) feature of copper (Cu), a vital trace element in the human body, Cu-based NMs can exhibit good near-infrared (NIR) absorption and excellent photothermal properties. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), Cu2+ combines with H2O2 to produce O2 that is reduced to Cu1+ by glutathione (GSH), causing a Fenton-like reaction that reduces tumor hypoxia and simultaneously generates ROS to eliminate tumor cells in conjunction with PTT/PDT. Compared with other therapeutic modalities, PTT/PDT can precisely target tumor location to kill tumor cells. Moreover, multiple treatment modalities can be combined with PTT/PDT to treat a tumor using Cu-based NMs. Herein, we reviewed and briefly summarized the mechanisms of actions of tumor-targeted PTT/PDT and the role of Cu, generated from Cu-based NMs, in PTs. Furthermore, we described the Cu-based NMs used in PTT/PDT applications.

Mild temperature-assisted antimicrobial film with self-activating biocatalytic activity for efficient preservation of perishable products

To mitigate the decay of fruits and vegetables caused by food-borne microorganisms, this contribution proposed for the first time a novel mild temperature-assisted nanozyme-based antibacterial packaging system with self-activating behavior (MnHC-CS films) through a demand-oriented tailoring process that involved the construction of hollow carbon-supported Mn3O4 fillers (MnHC) and its incorporation in chitosan (CS) matrix. In this system, the weak acidity of CS film triggers the self-activation of MnHC nanozyme. Leveraging the synergistic effects of the excellent oxidase-like activity and photothermal properties of MnHC, in conjunction with the inherent bacteria trapping and killing capabilities of CS, the MnHC0.20-CS film (The 0.20 represents the amount of MnHC in the film-forming solution) demonstrates remarkable antibacterial and antifungal performances, with high bactericidal rate, short action time, and mild heating temperature. Therefore, the MnHC0.20-CS film showcases excellent preservation capabilities, significantly extending the shelf life of kumquats by approximately 2.3 times. Additionally, this film also boasts enhanced mechanical strength, improved barrier properties, and sufficient safety, paving the way for its practical application. These exceptional features underscore the good potential of MnHC0.20-CS film in effectively safeguarding perishable products.

Multi-target photothermal immunochromatography for simultaneous detection of three mycotoxins in foods

BackgroundMycotoxin contaminated food poses a threat to human health. On-site detection of mycotoxin contamination is of significance to reduce the agricultural and food industries loss. Lateral flow immunochromatography (LFIC) as on-site detection method for mycotoxins has the advantages of low cost, easy to operate and short time-consuming. Of the various types of LFIC, photothermal LFIC possesses better sensitivity and stronger quantitative capability, but is unable to conduct synchronous multi-target analysis because that the laser can only activate one test area at a time. It was clear that a synchronous multi-target photothermal LFIC method was needed. ResultsIn this study, a photothermal LFIC method for the simultaneous detection of three mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEN), was developed. We broadened the laser source with a beam expander and realized the irradiation and activation of three test zones simultaneously. In addition, the competitive photothermal LFIC was constructed by using Cu2-xSe-Au nanocomposites with excellent photothermal properties (η = 87.47%) as photothermal signal probes and thermal imager as photothermal signal collector. Under optimized experimental conditions, the limits of detection (LOD) were 73 ng L−1, 45 ng L−1 and 43 ng L−1 for DON, AFB1 and ZEN, respectively. The method had good linearity in three orders of magnitude and good specificity. The recoveries of the three mycotoxins in oat, cornmeal and millet samples ranged from 78.6% to 112.4%. SignificanceCompared with previous studies, this method improved the sensitivity, broadened the linear range of detection without large equipment and realized synchronous multi-target analysis for DON, AFB1 and ZEN. We addressed a key limitation of photothermal LFIC by a simple way, facilitating the application of this technique in multi-target on-site detection in wider fields.