When Light Drives Discovery: Plasmonics at the Frontier of Energy Materials

Plasmon-enhanced optical techniques provide unprecedented sensitivity for operando characterization of energy materials and devices. Yet their adoption remains limited, shaped by a combination of genuine technical challenges and perception-driven concerns: where issues such as experimental complexity, difficulties in signal interpretation, and perceived incompatibility with device operation collectively slow broader uptake. In this perspective, we critically examine the strengths and limitations of plasmonic optical methods, highlighting examples where they have delivered unique mechanistic insights. We discuss both technological and perceived challenges and outline strategies, such as standardized protocols, improved data analysis, and careful device integration, to broaden their use. By confronting misconceptions and practical hurdles, we argue that plasmon-enhanced techniques are poised to transition from niche tools to mainstream instruments for probing energy materials and devices under operational conditions, offering a path toward a deeper, real-time understanding of functional processes.