Abstract
The nonradiative conversion of light to heat by plasmonic nanostructures, the so-called plasmonic photothermal effect, has attracted enormous attention due to their widespread potential applications. Herein, the perspectives on the design and preparation of plasmonic nanostructures for light to heat or photothermal conversion are provided. The general principle of plasmonic photothermal conversion is first introduced, and then, the strategies for improving efficiency are discussed, which is the focus of this field. Then, five typical application types are used, including solar energy harvesting, photothermal actuation, photothermal therapy, laser-induced color printing, and high-temperature photothermal devices, to elucidate how to tailor the nanomaterials to meet the requirements of these specific applications. In addition to the photothermal effect, other unique physical and chemical properties are coupled to further explore the application scenarios of plasmonic photothermal materials. Finally, a summary and the perspectives on the directions that may lead to the future development of this exciting field are also given.