Recent energy targeted applications of localized surface plasmon resonance semiconductor nanocrystals: a mini-review

Semiconductors nanocrystals (NCs) exhibiting localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) have recently emerged as useful tools in biomedical applications (photothermal therapy, enhanced drug delivery, imaging diagnostics, etc.), water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction catalysis, chemo-and biosensors, energy generation, conversion, and storage. In contrary to the conventional LSPR materials (noble metals), the semiconductors LSPR NCs allow a wide range of wavelength tunability of LSPRs from visible towards the near-infrared region (NIR) and further to mid-IR. That led to the adoption of those NCs in various applications wherein the effective tuning of IR characteristics is relevant for biological therapeutic window and tissue attenuation curves, solar spectrum, telecom window, waste heat spectral region, etc. The presented paper briefly reviews the library of semiconductor LSPR NCs, describes the mechanisms of LSPR tuning within NIR and mid-IR, and focuses on the state-of-the-art achievements in implementing LSPR NCs in various energy subjects such as solar energy harvesting via photovoltaics and steam generation, devices for effective energy use and storage, water splitting i.e. hydrogen evolution, elucidates the nature of above processes. To date, to the best of our knowledge within reviews on the fabrication, properties, and applications of LSPR semiconductor NCs, their applicability in energy conversion, storage, and related topics has not yet been summarized. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.