Plasmon-Induced Hot Carriers: An Atomistic Perspective of the First Tens of Femtoseconds

Abstract

For more than a decade the harvesting of the plasmon-induced hot carrier (HC) has promised a clean and efficient way to harness light irradiation. Here, we expose the difficulties that arise to describe the full process of plasmon-induced HC and its injection into the environment. Then, we share the perspective that we have built during the last years employing an atomistic and real-time approach of the ultrafast events that take place in the generation and direct injection of HC and their photocatalytic effect. Finally, we provide a nonexhaustive enumeration of the “lines to follow” that evidence that the plasmon-induced HC field will remain hot for many years to come.