How to Utilize Excited Plasmon Energy Efficiently.

Plasmonic nanoparticles can concentrate electromagnetic fields at the nanoscale and function as a powerful intermediary to enhance light-matter interactions. They have been widely employed for solar energy harvesting, photocatalysis, medicine, sensing, imaging, spectroscopy, optics, and optoelectronics. In this Perspective, we provide a brief overview of research progress in the utilization of excited plasmon energy, with emphasis on the charge- and energy-transfer processes. We discuss important factors that affect the charge- and energy-transfer efficiencies and present open questions and major challenges in the efficient utilization of excited plasmon energy.