Plasmonic-Pyroelectric Materials and Structures

With the growing global energy crisis, research into new energy materials that can potentially transfer heat into electricity has become a worldwide imperative. Pyroelectric materials are polar materials that are able to produce electrical charge in response to temperature change. These materials are of interest for infrared sensing, energy harvesting, and emerging applications in chemistry and biology. However, unlocking their potential requires the temperature changes to be both large and rapid. To achieve this goal, pyroelectric materials can be used in synergy with plasmonic nanomaterials, which provide highly localized and rapid heating upon illumination at the plasmonic resonances. Plasmonic-pyroelectric combinations are therefore being used for a variety of electrical, thermal, electrochemical, and biological studies and are inspiring new technological applications. In this review, the underlying mechanisms of the pyroelectric and plasmonic effects are introduced and the benefits of combining them are outlined. A range of applications is then overviewed. Critical challenges and future perspectives to further develop the underlying science of these systems and to create highly efficient plasmonic-pyroelectric materials and structures are discussed. This review outlines the benefits of combining pyroelectric and plasmonic materials. First, it describes the basic mechanisms of pyroelectricity and plasmonics. Next, a range of materials, device structures, and technological implementations are examined. The technological implementations outlined include energy harvesting, infrared detection, catalysis, and bio-applications. Finally, the key challenges and prospects for further development of plasmonic pyroelectric materials are discussed.image