Direct observation of ultrafast plasmonic hot electron transfer in the strong coupling regime

Enhancing Hot Carrier Photoelectric Efficiency through the Boosted Collection of Hot Holes via Au/ZrO2/Si Tunneling Junctions

Metallic nanoparticles can generate photoexcited hot carriers on the femtosecond scale under light excitation, which holds immense significance for applications such as optical communication and ultrafast imaging. In this study, a tunnelling junction structure with ZrO2 as the dielectric layer is designed and fabricated to achieve efficient hot hole collection between Au nanoparticles and P-type Si. Through characterizations of photoconductive atomic force microscopy, the electrical transition from an ohmic contact to a tunneling junction is confirmed, and the transfer pathway of Au hot holes to P-type Si upon 520 nm excitation is clearly observed. The impact of the tunneling structure on device performance is investigated through the fabrication of Si/ZrO2/Au/TiO2 photodiodes. The performance tests show that hot hole collection by the tunneling effect significantly enhances a range of parameters, e.g., external quantum efficiency by 250%. Noticeably, the external quantum efficiency attributed to photogenerated hot carriers under 520 nm excitation is estimated to exceed 2.5%. Moreover, the transient photoresponse of the photodiodes is examined with a typical rising time of less than 20 ns.

Strong anapole-plasmon coupling in dielectric-metallic hybrid nanostructures

The nanoscale ampification of light-matter interactions exhibits profound potential in multiple scientific fields, such as physics, chemistry, surface science, materials science, and nanophotonics. Nonetheless, achieving robust optical mode coupling within cavities faces significant hurdles due to modal dispersion and weak optical field confinement. In this theoretical investigation, we demonstrate the viability of strong coupling between the anapole mode of a slotted silicon nanodisk and the plasmonic modes of an Ag nanodisk dimer at visible light frequencies. By introducing anapole modes, we successfully confine light to subwavelength volumes, suppressing radiative losses and achieving a remarkable Rabi splitting of 468 meV. This substantial coupling is facilitated by the large spatial overlap of intense optical fields. Capitalizing on this strong mode coupling, we generate novel hybrid energy states with significant electromagnetic field enhancement. Our study serves as a valuable blueprint for designing platforms based on strong anapole mode coupling at visible frequencies and paves the way for deeper explorations into nanoscale light-matter interactions.

Dynamic Ultrastrong Coupling in a 2 nm Gap Plasmonic Cavity at the Sub-Picosecond Scale

Localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) can enhance the electromagnetic fields on metallic nanostructures upon light illumination, providing an approach for manipulating light-matter interactions at the sub-wavelength scale. However, currently, there is no thorough investigation of the physical mechanism in the dynamic formation of the strongly coupled LSPRs on sub-5 nm plasmonic cavities at the sub-picosecond scale. In this work, through femtosecond broadband transient absorption spectroscopy, we reveal the dynamic ultrastrong coupling processes in a nanoparticle-in-trench (NPiT) structure containing 2 nm gap cavities, and demonstrate a coherent motional coupling between vibrating AuNPs and the nanogaps. We achieve a maximum Rabi splitting energy of ∼660 meV in the sub-picosecond hot-electron relaxation time scale under the resonant excitation of the nanogap cavity's LSPR, reaching the ultrastrong coupling regime. This leads to a change of global vibration modes for the 2 nm gap cavity, potentially related to the dynamical Casimir effect with nanogap resonators.

Real-time observation of two distinctive non-thermalized hot electron dynamics at MXene/molecule interfaces

The photoinduced non-thermalized hot electrons at an interface play a pivotal role in determining plasmonic driven chemical events. However, understanding non-thermalized electron dynamics, which precedes electron thermalization (~125 fs), remains a grand challenge. Herein, we simultaneously captured the dynamics of both molecules and non-thermalized electrons in the MXene/molecule complexes by femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy. The real-time observation allows for distinguishing non-thermalized and thermalized electron responses. Differing from the thermalized electron/heat transfer, our results reveal two non-thermalized electron dynamical pathways: (i) the non-thermalized electrons directly transfer to attached molecules at an interface within 50 fs; (ii) the non-thermalized electrons scatter at the interface within 125 fs, inducing adsorbed molecules heating. These two distinctive pathways are dependent on the irradiating wavelength and the energy difference between MXene and adsorbed molecules. This research sheds light on the fundamental mechanism and opens opportunities in photocatalysis and interfacial heat transfer theory.

Strong Coupling of Two-Dimensional Excitons and Plasmonic Photonic Crystals: Microscopic Theory Reveals Triplet Spectra

Monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are direct-gap semiconductors with strong light-matter interactions featuring tightly bound excitons, while plasmonic crystals (PCs), consisting of metal nanoparticles that act as meta-atoms, exhibit collective plasmon modes and allow one to tailor electric fields on the nanoscale. Recent experiments show that TMDC-PC hybrids can reach the strong-coupling limit between excitons and plasmons, forming new quasiparticles, so-called plexcitons. To describe this coupling theoretically, we develop a self-consistent Maxwell-Bloch theory for TMDC-PC hybrid structures, which allows us to compute the scattered light in the near- and far-fields explicitly and provide guidance for experimental studies. One of the key findings of the developed theory is the necessity to differentiate between bright and originally momentum-dark excitons. Our calculations reveal a spectral splitting signature of strong coupling of more than 100 meV in gold-MoSe2 structures with 30 nm nanoparticles, manifesting in a hybridization of the plasmon mode with momentum-dark excitons into two effective plexcitonic bands. The semianalytical theory allows us to directly infer the characteristic asymmetric line shape of the hybrid spectra in the strong coupling regime from the energy distribution of the momentum-dark excitons. In addition to the hybridized states, we find a remaining excitonic mode with significantly smaller coupling to the plasmonic near-field, emitting directly into the far-field. Thus, hybrid spectra in the strong coupling regime can contain three emission peaks.

Anapole assisted self-hybridized exciton-polaritons in perovskite metasurfaces

The exciton-polaritons in a lead halide perovskite not only have great significance for macroscopic quantum effects but also possess vital potential for applications in ultralow-threshold polariton lasers, integrated photonics, slow-light devices, and quantum light sources. In this study, we have successfully demonstrated strong coupling with huge Rabi splitting of 553 meV between perovskite excitons and anapole modes in the perovskite metasurface at room temperature. This outcome is achieved by introducing anapole modes to suppress radiative losses, thereby confining light to the perovskite metasurface and subsequently hybridizing it with excitons in the same material. Our results indicate the formation of self-hybridized exciton-polaritons within the perovskite metasurface, which may pave the way towards achieving high coupling strengths that could potentially bring exciting phenomena to fruition, such as Bose-Einstein condensation as well as enabling applications such as efficient light-emitting diodes and lasers.

High performance artificial visual perception and recognition with a plasmon-enhanced 2D material neural network

The development of neuromorphic visual systems has recently gained momentum due to their potential in areas such as autonomous vehicles and robotics. However, current machine visual systems based on silicon technology usually contain photosensor arrays, format conversion, memory and processing modules. As a result, the redundant data shuttling between each unit, resulting in large latency and high-power consumption, seriously limits the performance of neuromorphic vision chips. Here, we demonstrate an artificial neural network (ANN) architecture based on an integrated 2D MoS2/Ag nanograting phototransistor array, which can simultaneously sense, pre-process and recognize optical images without latency. The pre-processing function of the device under photoelectric synergy ensures considerable improvement of efficiency and accuracy of subsequent image recognition. The comprehensive performance of the proof-of-concept device demonstrates great potential for machine vision applications in terms of large dynamic range (180 dB), high speed (500 ns) and low energy consumption per spike (2.4 × 10-17 J).

Direct Hot-Electron Transfer at the Au Nanoparticle/Monolayer Transition-Metal Dichalcogenide Interface Observed with Ultrahigh Spatiotemporal Resolution

Plasmon-induced hot-electron transfer at the metallic nanoparticle/semiconductor interface is the basis of plasmon-enhanced photocatalysis and energy harvesting. However, limited by the nanoscale size of hot spots and femtosecond time scale of hot-electron transfer, direct observation is still challenging. Herein, by using spatiotemporal-resolved photoemission electron microscopy with a two-color pump-probe beamline, we directly observed such a process with a concise system, the Au nanoparticle/monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) interface. The ultrafast hot-electron transfer from Au nanoparticles to monolayer TMDs and the plasmon-enhanced transfer process were directly measured and verified through an in situ comparison with the Au film/TMD interface and free TMDs. The lifetime at the Au nanoparticle/MoSe2 interface decreased from 410 to 42 fs, while the photoemission intensities exhibited a 27-fold increase compared to free MoSe2. We also measured the evolution of hot electrons in the energy distributions, indicating the hot-electron injection and decay happened in an ultrafast time scale of ∼50 fs without observable electron cooling.

Understanding the Behaviors of Plasmon-Induced Hot Carriers and Their Applications in Photocatalysis

Photocatalysis driven by plasmon-induced hot carriers has been gaining increasing attention. Recent studies have demonstrated that plasmon-induced hot carriers can directly participate in photocatalytic reactions, leading to great enhancement in solar energy conversion efficiency, by improving the catalytic activity or changing selectivity. Nevertheless, the utilization efficiency of hot carriers remains unsatisfactory. Therefore, how to correctly understand the generation and transfer process of hot carriers, as well as accurately differentiate between the possible mechanisms, have become a key point of attention. In this review, we overview the fundamental processes and mechanisms underlying hot carrier generation and transport, followed by highlighting the importance of hot carrier monitoring methods and related photocatalytic reactions. Furthermore, possible strategies for the further characterization of plasmon-induced hot carriers and boosting their utilization efficiency have been proposed. We hope that a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental behaviors of hot carriers can aid in designing more efficient photocatalysts for plasmon-induced photocatalytic reactions.

Photoemission Enhancement of Plasmonic Hot Electrons by Au Antenna-Sensitizer Complexes

The photoemission of surface plasmon decay-produced hot electrons is usually of very low efficiencies, hindering the practical utilization of such nonequilibrium charge carriers in harvesting photons with less energy than the semiconductor band gap for more efficient solar energy collection and photodetection. However, it has been demonstrated that the photoemission efficiency of small metal clusters increases as the particle size decreases. Recent studies have also shown that the photoemission efficiency of surface plasmon-yielded hot carriers can be intrinsically improved through proper material construction. In this paper, we report that the photoemission efficiency of hot electrons on the Au nanodisk-cluster complex/TiO2 interface can be dramatically enhanced under optical nanoantenna-sensitizer design. Such an enhancement is dominantly attributed to three factors. First, the large plasmonic nanodisk antennas provide a significantly enhanced optical near field, which largely increases light absorption in the small Au clusters that are acting as hot electron injection sensitizers. Second, the sub-3 nm size of the Au clusters facilitates the collection of delocalized spreading charges by the semiconductor. Third, the hybrid interface and molecule-like energy level of the Au cluster result in a much longer lifetime of excited electrons. Our results provide a promising approach for the effective harvesting of solar energy with plasmonic antenna-sensitizer complexes.

Tailoring linear and nonlinear plasmons of metal/MoS2/metal nanostructures

We investigated the linear and nonlinear response of the localized surface plasmons (LSPs) and surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in metal and MoS2 nanostructures. The results show that the response of LSPs and SPPs has an important influence on the energy exchange. SPPs with unique non-radiative characteristics can be used as energy recovery tanks to reuse the radiated energy of LSPs and promote the production of hot carriers. The energy exchange through plasmon modes can promote the transfer of hot electrons in the Au grating, the MoS2 layer, and the metal film. The fundamental field induces the increase of the second harmonic wave by introducing the second-order nonlinear source. In addition, the evolution of the lifetime of linear and nonlinear plasmonic modes is also investigated to study the underlying mechanism of the micro process in the plasmonic-photonic interaction. The plasmonic energy exchanging configuration overcomes the challenge by utilizing hot carriers. It is instructive in terms of improving the linear and nonlinear performance of plasmonic opto-electronic devices.

Plasmon-induced magnetic anapole mode assisted strong field enhancement

Optical metamaterials, sensing, nonlinear optics, and surface-enhanced spectroscopies have witnessed the remarkable potential of the anapole mode. While dielectric particles with a high refractive index have garnered significant attention in recent years, the exploration of plasmonic anapole modes with intense localized electric field enhancements in the visible frequency range remains limited. In this study, we present a theoretical investigation on the relationship between the strongest near-field response and magnetic anapole modes, along with their substantial enhancement of Raman signals from probing molecules. These captivating findings arise from the design of a practical metallic oblate spheroid-film plasmonic system that generates magnetic anapole resonances at frequencies within the visible-near-infrared range. This research not only sheds light on the underlying mechanisms in a wide range of plasmon-enhanced spectroscopies but also paves the way for innovative nano-device designs.

Photoluminescence Enhancement of Monolayer WS2 by n-Doping with an Optically Excited Gold Disk

In nanophotonics and quantum optics, we aim to control and manipulate light with tailored nanoscale structures. Hybrid systems of nanostructures and atomically thin materials are of interest here, as they offer rich physics and versatility due to the interaction between photons, plasmons, phonons, and excitons. In this study, we explore the optical and electronic properties of a hybrid system, a naturally n-doped monolayer WS2 covering a gold disk. We demonstrate that the nonresonant excitation of the gold disk in the high absorption regime efficiently generates hot carriers via localized surface plasmon excitation, which n-dope the monolayer WS2 and enhance the photoluminescence emission by regulating the multiexciton population and stabilizing the neutral exciton emission. The results are relevant to the further development of nanotransistors in photonic circuits and optoelectronic applications.

Hot-Electron Dynamics Mediated Medical Diagnosis and Therapy

Surface plasmon resonance excitation significantly enhances the absorption of light and increases the generation of "hot" electrons, i.e., conducting electrons that are raised from their steady states to excited states. These excited electrons rapidly decay and equilibrate via radiative and nonradiative damping over several hundred femtoseconds. During the hot-electron dynamics, from their generation to the ultimate nonradiative decay, the electromagnetic field enhancement, hot electron density increase, and local heating effect are sequentially induced. Over the past decade, these physical phenomena have attracted considerable attention in the biomedical field, e.g., the rapid and accurate identification of biomolecules, precise synthesis and release of drugs, and elimination of tumors. This review highlights the recent developments in the application of hot-electron dynamics in medical diagnosis and therapy, particularly fully integrated device techniques with good application prospects. In addition, we discuss the latest experimental and theoretical studies of underlying mechanisms. From a practical standpoint, the pioneering modeling analyses and quantitative measurements in the extreme near field are summarized to illustrate the quantification of hot-electron dynamics. Finally, the prospects and remaining challenges associated with biomedical engineering based on hot-electron dynamics are presented.

Sub-picosecond collapse of molecular polaritons to pure molecular transition in plasmonic photoswitch-nanoantennas

Molecular polaritons are hybrid light-matter states that emerge when a molecular transition strongly interacts with photons in a resonator. At optical frequencies, this interaction unlocks a way to explore and control new chemical phenomena at the nanoscale. Achieving such control at ultrafast timescales, however, is an outstanding challenge, as it requires a deep understanding of the dynamics of the collectively coupled molecular excitation and the light modes. Here, we investigate the dynamics of collective polariton states, realized by coupling molecular photoswitches to optically anisotropic plasmonic nanoantennas. Pump-probe experiments reveal an ultrafast collapse of polaritons to pure molecular transition triggered by femtosecond-pulse excitation at room temperature. Through a synergistic combination of experiments and quantum mechanical modelling, we show that the response of the system is governed by intramolecular dynamics, occurring one order of magnitude faster with respect to the uncoupled excited molecule relaxation to the ground state.

Intrinsic Optical Properties and Emerging Applications of Gold Nanostructures

The collective oscillation of free electrons at the nanoscale surface of gold nanostructures is closely modulated by tuning the size, shape/morphology, phase, composition, hybridization, assembly, and nanopatterning, along with the surroundings of the plasmonic surface located at a dielectric interface with air, liquid, and solid. This review first introduces the physical origin of the intrinsic optical properties of gold nanostructures and further summarizes stimuli-responsive changes in optical properties, metal-field-enhanced optical signals, luminescence spectral shaping, chiroptical response, and photogenerated hot carriers. The current success in the landscape of nanoscience and nanotechnology mainly originates from the abundant optical properties of gold nanostructures in the thermodynamically stable face-centered cubic (fcc) phase. It has been further extended by crystal phase engineering to prepare thermodynamically unfavorable phases (e.g., kinetically stable) and heterophases to modulate their intriguing phase-dependent optical properties. A broad range of promising applications, including but not limited to full-color displays, solar energy harvesting, photochemical reactions, optical sensing, and microscopic/biomedical imaging, have fostered parallel research on the multitude of physical effects occurring in gold nanostructures.

Observation of Multi-Directional Energy Transfer in a Hybrid Plasmonic-Excitonic Nanostructure

Hybrid plasmonic devices involve a nanostructured metal supporting localized surface plasmons to amplify light-matter interaction, and a non-plasmonic material to functionalize charge excitations. Application-relevant epitaxial heterostructures, however, give rise to ballistic ultrafast dynamics that challenge the conventional semiclassical understanding of unidirectional nanometal-to-substrate energy transfer. Epitaxial Au nanoislands are studied on WSe₂ with time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and femtosecond electron diffraction: this combination of techniques resolves material, energy, and momentum of charge-carriers and phonons excited in the heterostructure. A strong non-linear plasmon-exciton interaction that transfers the energy of sub-bandgap photons very efficiently to the semiconductor is observed, leaving the metal cold until non-radiative exciton recombination heats the nanoparticles on hundreds of femtoseconds timescales. The results resolve a multi-directional energy exchange on timescales shorter than the electronic thermalization of the nanometal. Electron-phonon coupling and diffusive charge-transfer determine the subsequent energy flow. This complex dynamics opens perspectives for optoelectronic and photocatalytic applications, while providing a constraining experimental testbed for state-of-the-art modelling.

Dissociation slowdown by collective optical response under strong coupling conditions

We consider an ensemble of diatomic molecules resonantly coupled to an optical cavity under strong coupling conditions at normal incidence. Photodissociation dynamics is examined via direct numerical integration of the coupled Maxwell-Schrödinger equations with molecular rovibrational degrees of freedom explicitly taken into account. It is shown that the dissociation is significantly affected (slowed down) when the system is driven at its polaritonic frequencies. The observed effect is demonstrated to be of transient nature and has no classical analog. An intuitive explanation of the dissociation slowdown at polaritonic frequencies is proposed.

Phonon-assisted upconversion in twisted two-dimensional semiconductors

Phonon-assisted photon upconversion (UPC) is an anti-Stokes process in which incident photons achieve higher energy emission by absorbing phonons. This letter studies phonon-assisted UPC in twisted 2D semiconductors, in which an inverted contrast between UPC and conventional photoluminescence (PL) of WSe2 twisted bilayer is emergent. A 4-fold UPC enhancement is achieved in 5.5° twisted bilayer while PL weakens by half. Reduced interlayer exciton conversion efficiency driven by lattice relaxation, along with enhanced pump efficiency resulting from spectral redshift, lead to the rotation-angle-dependent UPC enhancement. The counterintuitive phenomenon provides a novel insight into a unique way that twisted angle affects UPC and light-matter interactions in 2D semiconductors. Furthermore, the UPC enhancement platform with various superimposable means offers an effective method for lighting bilayers and expanding the application prospect of 2D stacked van der Waals devices.

Revealing the interlayer van der Waals coupling of bi-layer and tri-layer MoS2 using terahertz coherent phonon spectroscopy

In this research, we applied THz coherent phonon spectroscopy to optically probe the vibrational modes of the epitaxially-grown bi-layer and tri-layer MoS₂ on sapphire substrate. The layers' THz vibration is displacively stimulated and temporally retrieved by near-UV femtosecond laser pulses, revealing Raman-active and Raman-inactive modes in one measurement. With the complete breathing modes revealed, here we extend the linear chain model by considering the elastic contact with the substrate and vdWs coupling of the next nearest MoS₂ layer to analyze the effective spring constants. We further considered the intralayer stiffness as a correction term to acquire the actual interlayer vdWs coupling. Our THz phonon spectroscopy results indicate the interlayer spring constants of 9.03 × 10¹⁹ N/m³ and 9.86 × 10¹⁹ N/m³ for bi-layer and tri-layer respectively. The extended model further suggests that a non-negligible substrate mechanical coupling and next nearest neighbor vdWs coupling of 1.48 × 10¹⁹ N/m³ and 1.04 × 10¹⁹ N/m³ have to be considered.

Engineering Plasmonic Environments for 2D Materials and 2D-Based Photodetectors

Two-dimensional layered materials are considered ideal platforms to study novel small-scale optoelectronic devices due to their unique electronic structures and fantastic physical properties. However, it is urgent to further improve the light–matter interaction in these materials because their light absorption efficiency is limited by the atomically thin thickness. One of the promising approaches is to engineer the plasmonic environment around 2D materials for modulating light–matter interaction in 2D materials. This method greatly benefits from the advances in the development of nanofabrication and out-plane van der Waals interaction of 2D materials. In this paper, we review a series of recent works on 2D materials integrated with plasmonic environments, including the plasmonic-enhanced photoluminescence quantum yield, strong coupling between plasmons and excitons, nonlinear optics in plasmonic nanocavities, manipulation of chiral optical signals in hybrid nanostructures, and the improvement of the performance of optoelectronic devices based on composite systems.

Strong Coupling between a Single Quantum Emitter and a Plasmonic Nanoantenna on a Metallic Film

The strong coupling between single quantum emitters and resonant optical micro/nanocavities is beneficial for understanding light and matter interactions. Here, we propose a plasmonic nanoantenna placed on a metal film to achieve an ultra-high electric field enhancement in the nanogap and an ultra-small optical mode volume. The strong coupling between a single quantum dot (QD) and the designed structure is investigated in detail by both numerical simulations and theoretical calculations. When a single QD is inserted into the nanogap of the silver nanoantenna, the scattering spectra show a remarkably large splitting and anticrossing behavior of the vacuum Rabi splitting, which can be achieved in the scattering spectra by optimizing the nanoantenna thickness. Our work shows another way to enhance the light/matter interaction at a single quantum emitter limit, which can be useful for many nanophotonic and quantum applications.

Interacting plexcitons for designed ultrafast optical nonlinearity in a monolayer semiconductor

Searching for ideal materials with strong effective optical nonlinear responses is a long-term task enabling remarkable breakthroughs in contemporary quantum and nonlinear optics. Polaritons, hybridized light-matter quasiparticles, are an appealing candidate to realize such nonlinearities. Here, we explore a class of peculiar polaritons, named plasmon-exciton polaritons (plexcitons), in a hybrid system composed of silver nanodisk arrays and monolayer tungsten-disulfide (WS2), which shows giant room-temperature nonlinearity due to their deep-subwavelength localized nature. Specifically, comprehensive ultrafast pump-probe measurements reveal that plexciton nonlinearity is dominated by the saturation and higher-order excitation-induced dephasing interactions, rather than the well-known exchange interaction in traditional microcavity polaritons. Furthermore, we demonstrate this giant nonlinearity can be exploited to manipulate the ultrafast nonlinear absorption properties of the solid-state system. Our findings suggest that plexcitons are intrinsically strongly interacting, thereby pioneering new horizons for practical implementations such as energy-efficient ultrafast all-optical switching and information processing.

Strong and weak polarization-dependent interactions in connected and disconnected plasmonic nanostructures

We explore numerically and experimentally the formation of hybridized modes between a bright mode displayed by a gold nanodisc and either dark or bright modes of a nanorod - both elements being either separated by a nanometer-size gap (disconnected system) or relied on a metal junction (connected system). In terms of modeling, we compare the scattering or absorption spectra and field distributions obtained under oblique-incidence plane wave illumination with quasi-normal mode computation and an analytical model based on a coupled oscillator model. Both connected and disconnected systems have very different plasmon properties in longitudinal polarization. The disconnected system can be consistently understood in terms of the nature of hybridized modes and coupling strength using either QNMs or coupled oscillator model; however the connected configuration presents intriguing peculiarities based on the strong redistribution of charges implied by the presence of the metal connection. In practice, the fabrication of disconnected or connected configurations depends on the mitigation of lithographic proximity effects inherent to top-down lithography methods, which can lead to the formation of small metal junctions, while careful lithographic dosing allows one to fabricate disconnected systems with a gap as low as 20 nm. We obtained a very good agreement between experimentally measured scattering spectra and numerical predictions. The methods and analyses presented in this work can be applied to a wide range of systems, for potential applications in light-matter interactions, biosensing or strain monitoring.

The influence of single layer MoS2flake on the propagated surface plasmons of silver nanowire

We demonstrate enhancing the excitation and transmission efficiency of the propagated surface plasmon (SP) of an Ag nanowire (Ag NW) in hybrid Ag-MoS₂structures by contrasting the SP propagation of the Ag NW on different substrates, including SiO₂and monolayer MoS₂, or partially overlapping the Ag NW on MoS₂flakes. The simulation results show that the leaky radiation of the hybrid plasmonic modes H₁and H₂can be prominently suppressed due to the high refractive index dielectric layer of MoS₂, which provides an optical barrier for blocking the leaky radiation, resulting in reduced propagation loss. This paper provides a feasible and effective method to improve the SP propagation length.

Dynamics of Strong Coupling Between Free Charge Carriers in Organometal Halide Perovskites and Aluminum Plasmonic States

We have investigated a strong coupled system composed of a MAPbI_xCl_3-x perovskite film and aluminum conical nanopits array. The hybrid states formed by surface plasmons and free carriers, rather than the traditional excitons, is observed in both steady-state reflection measurements and transient absorption spectra. In particular, under near upper band resonant excitation, the bleaching signal from the band edge of uncoupled perovskite was completely separated into two distinctive bleaching signals of the hybrid system, which is clear evidence for the formation of strong coupling states between the free carrier–plasmon state. Besides this, a Rabi splitting up to 260 meV is achieved. The appearance of the lower bands can compensate for the poor absorption of the perovskite in the NIR region. Finally, we found that the lifetime of the free carrier–SP hybrid states is slightly shorter than that of uncoupled perovskite film, which can be caused by the ultrafast damping of the SPs modes. These peculiar features on the strong coupled hybrid states based on free charge carriers can open new perspectives for novel plasmonic perovskite solar cells.

Molecular Polaritonics: Chemical Dynamics Under Strong Light-Matter Coupling

Chemical manifestations of strong light-matter coupling have recently been a subject of intense experimental and theoretical studies. Here we review the present status of this field. Section 1 is an introduction to molecular polaritonics and to collective response aspects of light-matter interactions. Section 2 provides an overview of the key experimental observations of these effects, while Section 3 describes our current theoretical understanding of the effect of strong light-matter coupling on chemical dynamics. A brief outline of applications to energy conversion processes is given in Section 4. Pending technical issues in the construction of theoretical approaches are briefly described in Section 5. Finally, the summary in Section 6 outlines the paths ahead in this exciting endeavor. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, Volume 73 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Manipulating Hot-Electron Injection in Metal Oxide Heterojunction Array for Ultrasensitive Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

Efficient photoinduced charge transfer (PICT) resonance is crucial to the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance of metal oxide substrates. Herein, we venture into the hot-electron injection strategy to achieve unprecedented enhanced PICT efficiency between substrates and molecules. A heterojunction array composed of plasmonic MoO₂ and semiconducting WO_3-x is designed to prove the concept. The plasmonic MoO₂ generates intense localized surface plasmon resonance under illumination, which can generate near-field Raman enhancement as well as accompanied plasmon-induced hot-electrons. The hot-electron injection in direct interfacial charge transfer and plasmon-induced charge transfer process can effectively promote the PICT efficiency between substrates and molecules, achieving a record Raman enhancement factor among metal oxide substrates (2.12 × 10⁸) and the ultrasensitive detection of target molecule down to 10^-11 M. This work demonstrates the possibility of hot-electron manipulation to realize unprecedented Raman enhancement in metal oxides, offering a cutting-edge strategy to design high-performance SERS substrates.

Quantum Plasmonics: Energy Transport Through Plasmonic Gap

At the interfaces of metal and dielectric materials, strong light-matter interactions excite surface plasmons; this allows electromagnetic field confinement and enhancement on the sub-wavelength scale. Such phenomena have attracted considerable interest in the field of exotic material-based nanophotonic research, with potential applications including nonlinear spectroscopies, information processing, single-molecule sensing, organic-molecule devices, and plasmon chemistry. These innovative plasmonics-based technologies can meet the ever-increasing demands for speed and capacity in nanoscale devices, offering ultrasensitive detection capabilities and low-power operations. Size scaling from the nanometer to sub-nanometer ranges is consistently researched; as a result, the quantum behavior of localized surface plasmons, as well as those of matter, nonlocality, and quantum electron tunneling is investigated using an innovative nanofabrication and chemical functionalization approach, thereby opening a new era of quantum plasmonics. This new field enables the ultimate miniaturization of photonic components and provides extreme limits on light-matter interactions, permitting energy transport across the extremely small plasmonic gap. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the recent developments of quantum plasmonic resonators with particular focus on novel materials is presented. By exploring the novel gap materials in quantum regime, the potential quantum technology applications are also searched for and mapped out.

Plasmonic Coupling Architectures for Enhanced Photocatalysis

Plasmonic photocatalysis is a promising approach for solar energy transformation. Comparing with isolated metal nanoparticles, the plasmonic coupling architectures can provide further strengthened local electromagnetic field and boosted light-harvesting capability through optimal control over the composition, spacing, and orientation of individual nanocomponents. As such, when integrated with semiconductor photocatalysts, the coupled metal nanostructures can dramatically promote exciton generation and separation through plasmonic-coupling-driven charge/energy transfer toward superior photocatalytic efficiencies. Herein, the principles of the plasmonic coupling effect are presented and recent progress on the construction of plasmonic coupling architectures and their integration with semiconductors for enhanced photocatalytic reactions is summarized. In addition, the remaining challenges as to the rational design and utilization of plasmon coupling structures are elaborated, and some prospects to inspire new opportunities on the future development of plasmonic coupling structures for efficient and sustainable light-driven reactions are raised.

Trion dynamics and charge photogeneration in MoS2 nanosheets prepared by liquid phase exfoliation

Since excitonic quasiparticles, including excitons, trions and charges, have a great influence on the photoelectric characteristics of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), systematic explorations of the trion dynamics and charge photogeneration in 2D TMDs are important for their future optoelectronic applications. Here, broadband femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopic experiments are performed first to investigate the peak shifting and broadening kinetics in MoS₂ nanosheets in solution prepared by liquid phase exfoliation (LPE-MoS₂, ∼9 layers, 9L), which reveal that the binding energies for the A-, B-, and C-exciton states are ∼77 meV, ∼76 meV, and -70 meV (the energy difference between free charges and excitons; the negative sign for C-excitons means a spontaneous dissociation nature in band-nesting regions), respectively. Then, the trion dynamics and charge photogeneration in LPE-MoS₂ nanosheets have been studied in detail, demonstrating that they are comparable to those in chemical vapor deposition grown MoS₂ films (1L-, 3L- and 7L-MoS₂). These experimental results suggest that LPE-TMD nanosheets also have the potential for use in charge-related optoelectronic devices based on 2D TMDs.

There is plenty of room at the top: generation of hot charge carriers and their applications in perovskite and other semiconductor-based optoelectronic devices

Hot charge carriers (HC) are photoexcited electrons and holes that exist in nonequilibrium high-energy states of photoactive materials. Prolonged cooling time and rapid extraction are the current challenges for the development of future innovative HC-based optoelectronic devices, such as HC solar cells (HCSCs), hot energy transistors (HETs), HC photocatalytic reactors, and lasing devices. Based on a thorough analysis of the basic mechanisms of HC generation, thermalization, and cooling dynamics, this review outlines the various possible strategies to delay the HC cooling as well as to speed up their extraction. Various materials with slow cooling behavior, including perovskites and other semiconductors, are thoroughly presented. In addition, the opportunities for the generation of plasmon-induced HC through surface plasmon resonance and their technological applications in hybrid nanostructures are discussed in detail. By judiciously designing the plasmonic nanostructures, the light coupling into the photoactive layer and its optical absorption can be greatly enhanced as well as the successful conversion of incident photons to HC with tunable energies can also be realized. Finally, the future outlook of HC in optoelectronics is highlighted which will provide great insight to the research community.

Intraband hot-electron photoluminescence of a silver nanowire-coupled gold film via high-order gap plasmons

We report a strong one-photon photoluminescence (PL) behavior of a silver nanowire directly coupled gold film. The PL peak position of the silver nanowire-coupled gold film deviates from the intrinsic interband transition of gold materials and is not sensitive to the diameter change of the silver nanowire. We attribute this strong PL behavior to the intraband transition of hot electrons dominated by high-order gap plasmons, which are excited in the ultra-small gap formed by an ultra-thin polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) layer coated on the silver nanowire. The results show that the energy required for the strong PL of the heterogeneous system mainly comes from the gold film, acting as an incident energy absorber enhanced by the high-order gap plasmons, while the silver nanowire acts an efficient incident energy focusing antenna. In situ Raman scattering spectra and time-resolved PL intensity integral curves were used to record the carbonization and disappearance process of PVP. The understanding of the PL behavior of the silver nanowire directly coupled gold film proves the universality of plasmon-modulated PL theory and is also of great significance to improve the generation and utilization efficiency of hot electrons with high-order gap plasmons in the fields of catalysis and incident energy capture.

Symmetric Graphene Dielectric Nanowaveguides as Ultra-Compact Photonic Structures

A symmetric graphene plasmon waveguide (SGPWG) is proposed here to achieve excellent subwavelength waveguiding performance of mid-infrared waves. The modal properties of the fundamental graphene plasmon mode are investigated by use of the finite element method. Due to the naturally rounded tips, the plasmon mode in SGPWG could achieve a normalized mode field area of ~10⁻⁵ (or less) and a figure of merit over 400 by tuning the key geometric structure parameters and the chemical potential of graphene. In addition, results show that the modal performance of SGPWG seems to improve over its circular counterparts. Besides the modal properties, crosstalk analysis indicates that the proposed waveguide exhibits extremely low crosstalk, even at a separation distance of 64 nm. Due to these excellent characteristics, the proposed waveguide has promising applications in ultra-compact integrated photonic components and other intriguing nanoscale devices.

Near-Perfect Absorption of Light by Coherent Plasmon-Exciton States

We experimentally demonstrate and theoretically study the formation of coherent plasmon-exciton states which exhibit absorption of >90% of the incident light (at resonance) and cancellation of absorption. These coherent states result from the interaction between a material supporting an electronic excitation and a plasmonic structure capable of (near) perfect absorption of light. We illustrate the potential implications of these coherent states by measuring the charge separation attainable after photoexcitation. Our study opens the prospect for realizing devices that exploit coherent effects in applications.

One-pot synthesis of AuPd@FexOy nanoagent with the activable Fe species for enhanced Chemodynamic-photothermal synergetic therapy

Facile fabrication of Fe-based nanotheranostic agents with the enhanced Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) effect and multiple functions is important for oncotherapy. In this report, noble-metal@Fe_xO_y core-shell nanoparticles (Au@Fe_xO_y NPs, AuRu@Fe_xO_y NPs, AuPt@Fe_xO_y NPs and AuPd@Fe_xO_y NPs) are one-pot constructed by a simply redox self-assembly strategy. As a typical example, AuPd@Fe_xO_y NPs are applied for oncotherapy. Compared to their crystalline counterparts (e.g., AuPd@c-Fe₂O₃ nanocrystals (NCs)), AuPd@Fe_xO_y NPs with the metastable Fe_xO_y shell can be activated by a small amount of NaBH₄ to obviously enhance the production of ·OH in subsequent Fenton reaction (these activated products are termed as r-AuPd@Fe_xO_y NPs). In addition, a favorable photothermal effect (63.5% photothermal conversion efficiency) of r-AuPd@Fe_xO_y NPs can further promote the ·OH generation. Moreover, r-AuPd@Fe_xO_y NPs also show a pH-responsive T₁-weighted MRI contrast property, CT imaging capacity and the function of regulating tumor microenvironment. This work presents an attractive route to prepare versatile nanotheranostic agents.

Strong plasmon-exciton coupling in transition metal dichalcogenides and plasmonic nanostructures

Achieving strong coupling between emitters and cavity photons holds an important position in the light-matter interaction due to its applications such as polariton lasing, all-optical switches, and quantum information processing. However, room-temperature polaritonic devices with subwavelength dimensions based on strong light-matter coupling are difficult to realize using traditional emitter-cavity coupled systems. In recent years, coupled systems constructed from plasmonic nanostructures and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have shown their potential in achieving room-temperature strong coupling and robustness in the nanofabrication processes. This minireview presents the recent progress in strong plasmon-exciton coupling in such plasmonic-TMD hybrid structures. Differing from a broader scope of strong coupling, we focus on the plasmon-exciton coupling between excitons in TMDs and plasmons in single nanoparticles, nanoparticle-over-mirrors, and plasmonic arrays. In addition, we discuss the future perspectives on the strong plasmon-exciton coupling at few-excitons level and the nonlinear response of these hybrid structures in the strong coupling regime.

Ultrafast Carrier and Lattice Dynamics in Plasmonic Nanocrystalline Copper Sulfide Films

Excited carrier dynamics in plasmonic nanostructures determines many important optical properties such as nonlinear optical response and photocatalytic activity. Here it is shown that mesoscopic plasmonic covellite nanocrystals with low free-carrier concentration exhibit a much faster carrier relaxation than in traditional plasmonic materials. A nonequilibrium hot-carrier population thermalizes within first 20 fs after photoexcitation. A decreased thermalization time in nanocrystals compared to a bulk covellite is consistent with the reduced Coulomb screening in ultrathin films. The subsequent relaxation of thermalized, equilibrium electron gas is faster than in traditional plasmonic metals due to the lower carrier concentration and agrees well with that in a bulk covellite showing no evidence of quantum confinement or hot-hole trapping at the surface states. The excitation of coherent optical phonon modes in a covellite is also demonstrated, revealing coherent lattice dynamics in plasmonic materials, which until now was mainly limited to dielectrics, semiconductors, and semimetals. These findings show advantages of this new mesoscopic plasmonic material for active control of optical processes.

Enhancing plasmonic hot-carrier generation by strong coupling of multiple resonant modes

Plasmon-induced hot carriers have recently attracted considerable interest, but the energy efficiency in visible light is often low due to the short lifetime of hot carriers and the limited optical absorption of plasmonic architectures. To increase the generation of hot carriers, we propose to exert multiple plasmonic resonant modes and their strong coupling using a metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) nanocavity that comprises an Au nanohole array (AuNHA), a TiO₂ thin film and an Au reflector. Unlike common MDM structures, in addition to the Fabry-Pérot mode in the dielectric layer, AuNHA as the top layer is special because it excites the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) mode in the Au nanoholes and launches the gap surface plasmon polariton (GSPP) mode in the Au reflector surface. The spatial field overlapping of the three resonance modes enables strong mode coupling by optimizing the TiO₂ thickness, which leads to notably enhanced average IPCE (∼1.5%) and broadband photocurrent (170 μA·cm^-2). This MDM structure would be useful for photochemistry and photovoltaics using sunlight.

Spectromicroscopy and imaging of photoexcited electron dynamics at in-plane silicon pn junctions

The ultrafast spatiotemporal imaging of photoexcited electrons is essential to understanding interfacial electron dynamic processes. We used time- and energy-resolved photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) to investigate the photoexcited electron dynamics at multiplex in-plane silicon pn junctions. We found that the measured kinetic energy of photoelectrons from n-type regions is higher than that from p-type regions owing to different work functions. Interestingly, the kinetic energy of outer n-type regions is higher than that of inner n-type regions, which is caused by the reverse bias induced by photoemission. Time-resolved PEEM results reveal different evolution rates of hot electrons in different doping regions. The rise time of the n-type (outer n-type) regions is faster than that of the p-type (inner n-type) regions. So, closed doping patterns can influence the electron spectra and dynamics at the micro-nano scale. These results help us to understand the ultrafast dynamics of carriers at in-plane interfaces and optimize optoelectronic integrated devices with complex heterojunctions.

Recent Progress in Plasmonic Hybrid Photocatalysis for CO2 Photoreduction and C–C Coupling Reactions

Plasmonic hybrid nanostructures have been investigated as attractive heterogeneous photocatalysts that can utilize sunlight to produce valuable chemicals. In particular, the efficient photoconversion of CO2 into a stable hydrocarbon with sunlight can be a promising strategy to achieve a sustainable human life on Earth. The next step for hydrocarbons once obtained from CO2 is the carbon–carbon coupling reactions to produce a valuable chemical for energy storage or fine chemicals. For these purposes, plasmonic nanomaterials have been widely investigated as a visible-light-induced photocatalyst to achieve increased efficiency of photochemical reactions with sunlight. In this review, we discuss recent achievements involving plasmonic hybrid photocatalysts that have been investigated for CO and CO2 photoreductions to form multi-carbon products and for C–C coupling reactions, such as the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions.

Multipolar Plasmonic Resonances of Aluminum Nanoantenna Tuned by Graphene

We numerically investigate the multipolar plasmonic resonances of Aluminum nanoantenna tuned by a monolayer graphene from ultraviolet (UV) to visible regime. It is shown that the absorbance of the plasmonic odd modes (l = 1 and l = 3) of graphene-Al nanoribbon structure is enhanced while the absorption at the plasmonic even modes (l = 2) is suppressed, compared to the pure Al nanoribbon structure. With the presence of the monolayer graphene, a change in the resonance strength of the multipolar plasmonic modes results from the near field interactions of the monolayer graphene with the electric fields of the multipolar plasmonic resonances of the Al resonator. In particular, a clear absorption peak with a high quality (Q)-factor of 27 of the plasmonic third-order mode (l = 3) is realized in the graphene-Al nanoribbon structure. The sensitivity and figure of merit of the plasmonic third-order mode of the proposed Graphene-Al nanoribbon structure can reach 25 nm/RIU and 3, respectively, providing potential applications in optical refractive-index sensing.

Many-particle induced band renormalization processes in few- and mono-layer MoS2

Band renormalization effects play a significant role for two-dimensional (2D) materials in designing a device structure and customizing their optoelectronic performance. However, the intrinsic physical mechanism about the influence of these effects cannot be revealed by general steady-state studies. Here, band renormalization effects in organic superacid treated monolayer MoS₂, untreated monolayer MoS₂and few-layer MoS₂are quantitatively analyzed by using broadband femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. In comparison with the untreated monolayer, organic superacid treated monolayer MoS₂maintains a direct bandgap structure with two thirds of carriers populated at K valley, even when the initial exciton density is as high as 2.05 × 10¹⁴cm^-2(under 400 nm excitations). While for untreated monolayer and few-layer MoS₂, many-particle induced band renormalizations lead to a stronger imbalance for the carrier population between K and Q valleys inkspace, and the former experiences a direct-to-indirect bandgap transition when the initial exciton density exceeds 5.0 × 10¹³cm^-2(under 400 nm excitations). Those many-particle induced band renormalization processes further suggest a band-structure-controlling method in practical 2D devices.

Self-cleaning semiconductor heterojunction substrate: ultrasensitive detection and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants for environmental remediation

Emerging technologies in the field of environmental remediation are becoming increasingly significant owing to the increasing demand for eliminating significant amounts of pollution in water, soil, and air. We designed and synthesized MoS2/Fe2O3 heterojunction nanocomposites (NCs) as multifunctional materials that are easily separated and reused. The trace detection performance of the prepared sample was examined using bisphenol A (BPA) as the probe molecule, with limits of detection as low as 10-9 M; this detection limit is the lowest among all reported semiconductor substrates. BPA was subjected to rapid photocatalytic degradation by MoS2/Fe2O3 NCs under ultraviolet irradiation. The highly recyclable MoS2/Fe2O3 NCs exhibited photo-Fenton catalytic activity for BPA and good detection ability when reused as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate after catalysis. The SERS and photocatalysis mechanisms were proposed while considering the effects of the Z-scheme charge-transfer paths, three-dimensional flower-like structures, and dipole-dipole coupling. Moreover, the prepared MoS2/Fe2O3 NCs were successfully applied in the detection of BPA in real lake water and milk samples. Herein, we present insights into the development of MoS2/Fe2O3 materials, which can be used as multifunctional materials in chemical sensors and in photocatalytic wastewater treatments for the removal of recalcitrant organic pollutants.

Layer-Dependent Electron Transfer and Recombination Processes in MoS2/WSe2 Multilayer Heterostructures

Understanding and controlling the charge transfer processes of two-dimensional (2D) materials are fundamental for the optimized device performance based on 2D semiconductors and heterostructures. The charge transfer rate is very robust in transition metal disulfide (TMD) heterostructures with type II band alignments, which can be manipulated by intercalating a dielectric layer like hBN to isolate the donor and acceptor monolayers. This study shows that there is an alternative way to change the electron transfer and recombination rates in the case of nLMoS₂/mLWSe₂ multilayer heterostructures, where the donor-acceptor distance is maintained, but the rate of electron transfer is strongly layer dependent and shows asymmetry for the layer number of donor and acceptor monolayers. Especially, the 1LMoS₂/2LWSe₂ heterostructure slows electron transfer and charge recombination rates ∼2.3 and ∼12 times that of the 1LMoS₂/1LWSe₂ heterostructure, respectively, which have been competitive with that in the 1LMoS₂/hBN/1LWSe₂ heterostructure. From an application perspective, the noninterfacial electron transfer in which photogenerated electrons should across more than one atomically thin layer is not favorable due to the built-in electric field established by the initial interfacial electron transfer.

Fabricating acid-sensitive controlled PAA@Ag/AgCl/CN photocatalyst with reversible photocatalytic activity transformation

Achieving the intelligent controllability of the photocatalyst to the surrounding environment is a very meaningful work. Here, the polyacrylic acid (PAA) modified Ag/AgCl-40/CN composite was constructed to achieve an intelligent response of pH value. PAA exhibits hydrophilic properties at high pH value, increasing the adsorption capacity to tetracycline (TC) molecules. The morphology of PAA from contracted state to diastolic state, releasing the Ag/AgCl-40/CN catalyst. In addition, PAA modified Ag/AgCl-40/CN can prevent the loss of AgCl. The g-C₃N₄ nanosheets (CN) as a carrier enhance the dispersibility of the AgCl particles. The LSPR effects of Ag nanoparticles produce more electrons acting on photocatalytic degradation. On the results of experiment, the degradation of TC by PAA@Ag/AgCl-40/CN shows an excellent degradation activity when the high pH value. Photoluminescence spectroscopy and photocurrent demonstrate that carrier separation efficiency of PAA@Ag/AgCl-40/CN is higher than CN and Ag/AgCl-40/CN. The detection of the main active substances •O₂^- and h⁺, revealing a reasonable mechanism for the PAA@Ag/AgCl-40/CN hybrid system. This work provides a procedure to obtain smart materials that can switch photocatalytic processes.

Opposite Polarity Surface Photovoltage of MoS2 Monolayers on Au Nanodot versus Nanohole Arrays

We prepared MoS₂ monolayers on Au nanodot (ND) and nanohole (NH) arrays. Both these sample arrays exhibited enhanced photoluminescence intensity compared with that of a bare SiO₂/Si substrate. The reflectance spectra of MoS₂/ND and MoS₂/NH had clear features originating from excitation of localized surface plasmon and propagating surface plasmon polaritons. Notably, the surface photovoltages (SPV) of these hybrid plasmonic nanostructures had opposite polarities, indicating negative and positive charging at MoS₂/ND and MoS₂/NH, respectively. Surface potential maps, obtained by Kelvin probe force microscopy, suggested that the potential gradient led to a distinct spatial distribution of photo-generated charges in these two samples under illumination. Furthermore, the local density of photo-generated excitons, as predicted from optical simulations, explained the SPV spectra of MoS₂/ND and MoS₂/NH. We show that the geometric configuration of the plasmonic nanostructures modified the polarity of photo-generated excess charges in MoS₂. These findings point to a useful means of optimizing optoelectronic characteristics and improving the performance of MoS₂-based plasmonic devices.

In Situ Visualization of Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance-Driven Hot Hole Flux

Nonradiative surface plasmon decay produces highly energetic electron-hole pairs with desirable characteristics, but the measurement and harvesting of nonequilibrium hot holes remain challenging due to ultrashort lifetime and diffusion length. Here, the direct observation of LSPR-driven hot holes created in a Au nanoprism/p-GaN platform using photoconductive atomic force microscopy (pc-AFM) is demonstrated. Significant enhancement of photocurrent in the plasmonic platforms under light irradiation is revealed, providing direct evidence of plasmonic hot hole generation. Experimental and numerical analysis verify that a confined |E|-field surrounding a single Au nanoprism spurs resonant coupling between localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and surface charges, thus boosting hot hole generation. Furthermore, geometrical and size dependence on the extraction of LSPR-driven hot holes suggests an optimized pathway for their efficient utilization. The direct visualization of hot hole flow at the nanoscale provides significant opportunities for harnessing the underlying nature and potential of plasmonic hot holes.