Abstract
Chiral plasmonic nanostructures (cPNSs) have garnered extensive interest across disciplines due to their strong interaction with circularly polarized light (CPL). Numerous fundamental studies have demonstrated the enhancement of chiroptic effects in molecular systems and quantum emitters facilitated by chiral metal nanostructures; for example, the detection of DNA at attomolar concentrations has been achieved using cPNSs. In recent years, significant advancements have been made in the colloidal synthesis of chiral plasmonic nanostructures. A noteworthy breakthrough involves the use of CPL to fabricate cPNSs. As a traceless chiral agent, CPL holds great potential for integration with nanofabrication technologies. In this review, we will summarize the progress made in fabricating cPNSs using CPL. We will discuss the mechanisms involved in the CPL-based fabrication process and share our insights regarding the outstanding questions related to cPNSs produced by CPL. Additionally, we will outline common techniques for characterizing the chiroptic effects of cPNSs in both the far field and the near field. Last, we will review the various applications of cPNSs and highlight the most promising applications of cPNSs fabricated using CPL.