Gold Nanoparticle-Based Nanoengines for Light-Induced Plasmonic Bubble Generation

This paper explores the rate and severity of plasmonic bubble generation by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of different sizes and concentrations under sunlight illumination. An AuNP nanoengine has been built and optimized through related phenomena, and the size of AuNPs has been controlled through the automatic experiment robot. The bubble generation occurred within about 2-3 min before bursting within 1 s. It occurred 4-5 times and could propel an improved Stirling steam engine. This nanoengine can continuously output work at 40 W/m(2). With increased illumination time, the pressure could exceed 10 atm, causing an explosion, indicating the superstrong energy capacity in the AuNP solution.