Plasmonic photochemistry and photon confinement to the nanoscale

This account gives a simple qualitative discussion of the confinement of the motion of electrons to the nanoscale. The mechanism by which gold and silver nanoparticles confine photons to the nanoscale, resulting in both the surface plasmon resonance and strong surface plasmon fields, is mentioned. Examples of different observations and applications of the plasmonic field enhancement of light scattering, absorption, photo-thermal and nonradiative processes studied in our group are summarized.

► Our experimental results illustrate the application of plasmonic enhancement effects.
► The photon confinement effect was applied for cancer diagnosis.
► The photo-thermal method can selectively destroy the cancer cells.
► Plasmonic fields can enhance the absorption or emission of the semiconductor nanorod.