Abstract
In this study, we demonstrate the gold nanorods can be successfully incorporated into common optical recording media such as phthalo-cyanine, azo-dye, and phase change media, and operate as a nano-heat sensitizers. Since the recording mechanism for optical recording media is optothermal energy conversion, high absorption cross section of gold nanorods tuned at recording laser wavelengths is shown to be extremely useful in nano-heat generation, which facilitate the efficient recording on those media.