When plasmonic nanoparticles (PNPs) are illuminated by a light source with a plasmon frequency, an intensive localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect can be excited, which causes an obvious enhancement of the local electric field around the PNPs. The light energy is converted into heat by the PNPs, causing a gradual increase in the temperature of the media around these PNPs. Under the induction of radiation, the heat generated by PNPs vaporizes the surrounding water, and under the combined effect of the local electric field, plasmonic nanobubbles (PNBs) are generated. After that, PNBs will continue to grow, which is mainly caused by the influx of dissolved gas from the surrounding water. With the growth of PNBs, PNB-induced micro convection and some unique nonlinear changes of optical properties can be observed. Since the size, location and lifetime of PNBs can be flexibly controlled by adjusting the parameters of the light source, PNBs have been widely used in several emerging applications such as microfluidic manipulations, medical drug delivery and cell therapy. In this review, we first introduce the physical mechanism of PNB generation and discuss the micro convection and optical nonlinearity caused by PNBs. In addition, we demonstrate the nucleation mechanism and the growth kinetics of PNBs. Then we review the PNBs-based applications in microfluid flow control, particle manipulation, optical property tuning, medical drug delivery and cancer therapy. Finally, we summarize the current challenges of this field and propose an outlook for future developments.
Citation: Yifan Zhang, Wei An, Chang Zhao, Qingchun Dong. Radiation induced plasmonic nanobubbles: fundamentals, applications and prospects[J]. AIMS Energy, 2021, 9(4): 676-713·. doi: 10.3934/energy.2021032
When plasmonic nanoparticles (PNPs) are illuminated by a light source with a plasmon frequency, an intensive localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect can be excited, which causes an obvious enhancement of the local electric field around the PNPs. The light energy is converted into heat by the PNPs, causing a gradual increase in the temperature of the media around these PNPs. Under the induction of radiation, the heat generated by PNPs vaporizes the surrounding water, and under the combined effect of the local electric field, plasmonic nanobubbles (PNBs) are generated. After that, PNBs will continue to grow, which is mainly caused by the influx of dissolved gas from the surrounding water. With the growth of PNBs, PNB-induced micro convection and some unique nonlinear changes of optical properties can be observed. Since the size, location and lifetime of PNBs can be flexibly controlled by adjusting the parameters of the light source, PNBs have been widely used in several emerging applications such as microfluidic manipulations, medical drug delivery and cell therapy. In this review, we first introduce the physical mechanism of PNB generation and discuss the micro convection and optical nonlinearity caused by PNBs. In addition, we demonstrate the nucleation mechanism and the growth kinetics of PNBs. Then we review the PNBs-based applications in microfluid flow control, particle manipulation, optical property tuning, medical drug delivery and cancer therapy. Finally, we summarize the current challenges of this field and propose an outlook for future developments.
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