Sample interview questions: Can you explain the concept of plasmonic nanostructures for energy harvesting and their potential applications?
Sample answer:
Plasmonic nanostructures offer promising avenues for efficient energy harvesting and hold great potential for practical applications due to their unique ability to manipulate light at the nanoscale:
- Fundamentals of Plasmonic Nanostructures:
- Plasmonic nanostructures are typically composed of noble metals, such as gold or silver, with dimensions smaller than the wavelength of light.
- When light interacts with these nanostructures, it can excite surface plasmons, which are collective oscillations of free electrons.
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The interaction between light and plasmons leads to enhanced light absorption, scattering, and confinement, resulting in unique optical properties.
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Energy Harvesting Applications:
a) Solar Cells:- Plasmonic nanostructures can be integrated into solar cells to improve light absorption and energy conversion efficiency.
- By carefully designing the size, shape, and arrangement of plasmonic nanostructures, it is possible to enhance the absorption of specific wavelengths of light, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the solar cell.
b) Photocatalysis: - Plasmonic nanostructures can enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic reactions, such as water splitting for hydrogen production.
- The localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of plasmonic nanostructures can generate hot electrons, which can participate in chemical reactions more efficiently than thermal electrons.
c) Thermoelectrics: - Plasmonic nanostructures can be used to improve the thermoelectric properties of materials.
- By introducing plasmonic nanostructures, the Seebeck coefficient a… Read full answer