Near-spherical gold nanoparticles were synthesized using a facile chemical reduction method. The optical properties, size, and morphology of nanofluids were characterized using ultraviolet–visible–near-infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope (TEM). All the gold nanofluids showed better photothermal conversion characteristics than H2O due to the strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. The increase in gold nanoparticles diameters resulted in lower photothermal conversion properties, so the appropriate reducing agents have great influence on the optical properties of gold nanofluids in our experimental system. Trisodium citrate is the optimum reducing agents compared with NaBH4 and ascorbic acid (AA).

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