Plasmonic hot-carriers and their applications: opinion

Abstract

The generation of nonequilibrium hot-carriers from the decay of surface plasmons has been attracting intense research attention in the last decade due to both the fundamental aspects of extreme light-matter interactions and potential practical applications. Here, we overview the physics associated with plasmon-assisted hot-carrier generation and outline the key applications of hot-carrier processes for photodetection, photovoltaics and photocatalysis. We also discuss the recent developments in employing molecular tunnel junctions as barriers for extracting hot-carriers and provide an outlook on the potential of this emerging field for sustainable energy.