Plasmonic Nanomaterials for Versatile Solar Energy Conversion Applications

Solar thermal conversion technology, as an emerging solar energy harvesting strategy, has attracted much attention in many application areas. In this field, plasmonic materials have a strong application potential owing to their localized surface plasmon resonance. The use of plasmonic materials with extensive solar energy absorption, combined with their practical applications, provides new routes for realizing efficient photothermal conversion in multidisciplinary applications. In this review, we discuss the photothermal conversion of different nano/microstructures based on various plasmonic systems for hydrogen production, desalination, and bacterial inactivation applications, including the design of plasmonic systems coupled with a variety of materials for enhanced photocatalysis, localized heating, and salt resistance. Finally, new design concepts and current advances for scalable wastewater purification as well as bacterial and hydrogen detection are discussed. The aim of this review is to summarize the latest developments in the application of plasmonic materials in solar photothermal conversion technologies, as a way to stimulate the transition of fundamental research to practical industrial applications, facilitate the effective use of new energy sources, and provide new research strategies for the sustainable production of energy.