Plasmonic Nanostructures for Enhanced Self-Healing in Materials: A Review

This work provides a comprehensive analysis of the effects of plasmonic materials on self-healing processes, focusing on recent advances, challenges, and perspectives. We highlight the unique role of plasmonic nanostructures in facilitating the efficient repair of fractures in materials. Despite considerable advances in self-healing materials, there is still great interest in investigating the specific properties and applications of plasmonic nanostructures. In particular, silver and gold nanoparticles exhibit remarkable photophysical properties, attributed to localized surface plasmon resonance, which enables precise control over self-repair processes. This review addresses the physical effects, the fundamental role of thermal energy in healing processes, and the existing challenges, and ultimately outlines future directions for research in the field.