Plasmonic Photocatalysis for Solar Energy Conversion

Plasmonic photocatalysis harnesses the unique optical properties of metallic nanostructures to drive chemical transformations under solar illumination. In essence, incident photons excite collective oscillations of conduction electrons—known as localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)—at the metal–semiconductor interface. The rapid decay of these plasmons generates energetic “hot” carriers and intense near-field enhancements that can be injected into adjacent semiconductors or mediators, thereby surmounting intrinsic band-gap limitations and improving charge separation. By integrating plasmonic metals such as gold, silver or aluminium with robust semiconductors, researchers have extended light absorption across the ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared spectrum, exploiting scattering, photothermal effects and plasmon-induced resonance energy transfer (PIRET). This multi-modal approach has enabled notable gains in photoelectrochemical water splitting, solar fuel synthesis and environmental remediation, offering a route towards high-efficiency solar-to-chemical energy conversion with earth-abundant or cost-effective materials.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Exemplary three-dimensional nanopeapods, comprising Au@Nb core–shell nanoparticles seeded within HxK1−xNbO3 nanoscrolls, have achieved broadband harvesting from ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths. This biomimetic architecture fosters strong plasmon–plasmon coupling, enabling efficient hot-carrier transfer to the semiconductor pods and promoting both dye degradation and water photoelectrolysis under full-spectrum illumination. A multilayered heterostructure of alternating Au and TiO2 nanoparticles assembled via layer-by-layer deposition has demonstrated improved stability and charge separation. By tuning the number of metal–semiconductor bilayers, researchers achieved enhanced light absorption and Schottky-barrier-mediated hot-electron injection for water oxidation, with catalytic performance dependent on interlayer charge transport. Separately, a Cu2O–Au–BiFeO3 photocathode hybrid leverages ferroelectric polarisation and plasmonic resonance to suppress recombination and drive hot electrons into the electrolyte. Integration of Au nanoparticles at the Cu2O–BFO interface yielded a significant anodic shift and increased photocurrent density, highlighting the synergy of ferroelectric fields and plasmonic hot-electron dynamics in solar hydrogen production.

Plasmonic Photocatalysis for Solar Energy Conversion publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in plasmonic photocatalysis for solar energy conversion across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR): collective oscillation of conduction electrons in metallic nanostructures under optical excitation that produces strong electromagnetic field enhancements.

Hot electron: high-energy charge carrier generated by non-radiative decay of plasmons, capable of overcoming energy barriers to enter semiconductor conduction bands.

Schottky junction: interface between a metal and semiconductor that creates an energy barrier facilitating directional charge separation.

Near-field enhancement: spatially confined amplification of electromagnetic fields adjacent to plasmonic nanostructures, intensifying light–matter interactions.

References

1. New insights into plasmonic hot-electron dynamics. Light: Science & Applications (2024).
2. Au@Nb@HxK1-xNbO3 nanopeapods with near-infrared active plasmonic hot-electron injection for water splitting. Nature Communications (2018).
3. Multilayered Plasmonic Heterostructure of Gold and Titania Nanoparticles for Solar Fuel Production. Scientific Reports (2018).
4. Plasmonic enhanced Cu2O-Au-BFO photocathodes for solar hydrogen production. Scientific Reports (2019).
5. Probing of coupling effect induced plasmonic charge accumulation for water oxidation. National Science Review (2020).