The dynamics of plasmon-induced hot carrier creation in colloidal gold

Anna Wach, Robert Bericat-Vadell, Camila Bacellar, Claudio Cirelli, Philip J. M. Johnson, Rebeca G. Castillo, Vitor R. Silveira, Peter Broqvist, Jolla Kullgren, Alexey Maximenko, Tomasz Sobol, Ewa Partyka-Jankowska, Peter Nordlander, Naomi J. Halas, Jakub Szlachetko () and Jacinto Sá ()
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Anna Wach: Jagiellonian University
Robert Bericat-Vadell: Uppsala University
Camila Bacellar: Paul Scherrer Institut
Claudio Cirelli: Paul Scherrer Institut
Philip J. M. Johnson: Paul Scherrer Institut
Rebeca G. Castillo: Mülheim an der Ruhr
Vitor R. Silveira: Uppsala University
Peter Broqvist: Uppsala University
Jolla Kullgren: Uppsala University
Alexey Maximenko: Jagiellonian University
Tomasz Sobol: Jagiellonian University
Ewa Partyka-Jankowska: Jagiellonian University
Peter Nordlander: Rice University
Naomi J. Halas: Rice University
Jakub Szlachetko: Jagiellonian University
Jacinto Sá: Polish Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The generation and dynamics of plasmon-induced hot carriers in gold nanoparticles offer crucial insights into nonequilibrium states for energy applications, yet the underlying mechanisms remain experimentally elusive. Here, we leverage ultrafast X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to directly capture hot carrier dynamics with sub-50 fs temporal resolution, providing clear evidence of plasmon decay mechanisms. We observe the sequential processes of Landau damping (~25 fs) and hot carrier thermalization (~1.5 ps), identifying hot carrier formation as a significant decay pathway. Energy distribution measurements reveal carriers in non-Fermi-Dirac states persisting beyond 500 fs and observe electron populations exceeding single-photon excitation energy, indicating the role of an Auger heating mechanism alongside traditional impact excitation. These findings deepen the understanding of hot carrier behavior under localized surface plasmon resonance, offering valuable implications for applications in photocatalysis, photovoltaics, and phototherapy. This work establishes a methodological framework for studying hot carrier dynamics, opening avenues for optimizing energy transfer processes in nanoscale plasmonic systems.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57657-1

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