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Updated: Apr 19, 2026
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Design, Fabrication, and Experimental Characterization of Plasmonic Photoconductive Terahertz Emitters
Published on: July 8, 2013
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Plasmon-induced hot carrier science and technology
Mark L Brongersma1, Naomi J Halas2, Peter Nordlander2
11] Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA [2] Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
Nature Nanotechnology
|January 7, 2015
Summary
Hot carriers, discovered in 1887, offer new research and technology opportunities. Plasmon-induced hot carrier generation is advancing solar energy, photodetectors, and materials science.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Mechanics
Background:
- The photoelectric effect, discovered in 1887, initiated hot carrier science.
- Hot carriers are crucial in quantum mechanics and offer current research opportunities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in understanding plasmon-induced hot carrier generation.
- To highlight new research directions and applications of hot carriers.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of kinetic energy and momentum of photoejected hot electrons.
- Engineering plasmon excitations in metallic nanostructures.
- Review of current literature on hot carrier generation and applications.
Main Results:
- Hot carriers provide insights into material electronic structures.
- Hot carrier heat can drive physical and chemical processes.
- Applications include solar energy harvesting, photodetectors, spectrometers, and doping 2D materials.
Conclusions:
- Plasmon-induced hot carriers present exciting opportunities for fundamental research and technological applications.
- Further research can enhance control over hot carrier emission for advanced devices.
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