Solar energy conversion using charge carriers derived from surface plasmons

That the conduction electrons inhabiting nanostructured metals and other conductors can sustain resonances involving the coherent, collective dynamics of the electrons – plasmon resonances – has been known and understood for the better part of a century. These resonances can store great quantities of energy, which on dephasing can result in numerous energetic electrons (and holes) which thermalize by electron-phonon interactions over a few picoseconds. Hot electron phenomena such as enhanced photoemission from plasmonic systems have been known for many years.

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