Fig. 1. Schematics of surface plasmons. (a) SPP; (b) dispersion curve at Ag/SiO2 interface[32];(c) LSP; (d) extinction efficiency spectrum of 50-nm Ag nanoparticle[32]

Fig. 2. Light absorption characteristics and materials of plasmons. (a) Electron density[43]; (b) surroundings[39]; (c) relationship between different assembly methods[8]; (d) wide spectrum absorption with multiple non-resonant optical modes[46]

Fig. 3. Micro-mechanism of plasmon photothermal effect. (a) Time scale[52]; (b) space scale[48]

Fig. 4. Micro-mechanism of plasmon material based photothermal vapor conversion[58]

Fig. 5. Different designed structures for enhancing solar absorption. (a)(b) Tune resonant absorption peak to overlap the peak of solar spectra by regulating size of SiO2/Au core-shell[25]; (c)(d) achieve broadband light absorption by plasmon resonance hybridization of Au particle[67]; (e)(f) enhance broadband absorption under multiple optical modes of Au nanowire bundles[46]; (g)(h) enhance broadband absorption within solar spectral range by combining plasmon characteristics of tellurium nanoparticles

Fig. 6. Optimization from bulk heating to interface heating. (a)(b) Thermal local control in bulk heating[71]; (c)(d) interface heating by using porous template AAO as the substrate[69]