Plasmonic nanostructures characterized by strong light absorption through excitations of collective free electron oscillations, known as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), have recently shown great potential for solar energy conversion. Although the plasmonic hot electrons in water reduction have been extensively studied, exactly how the plasmonic hot holes participate in the water splitting reaction has not yet been well understood. In particular, where the plasmonic hot holes participate in water oxidation is still illusive. 
   Recently, the research group led by Prof. LI Can in Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics identified the water oxidation reaction sites in plasmonic photocatalyst Au/TiO₂ and fabricated a visible-light-induced overall water splitting system based on surface plasmon effect. This work has been published in J. Am. Chem. Soc. (DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b04470). 
   They clearly demonstrated that the plasmon-induced water oxidation reaction takes place at the reaction sites localized at the interface between Au and TiO₂. The reaction sites are positioned by photodeposition together with element mapping by electron microscopy, while the distribution of holes is probed by surface photovoltage imaging with Kelvin probe force microscopy. Density functional theory also corroborates these findings by revealing the promotion role of interfacial structure (Ti?O?Au) for oxygen evolution. 
   On the basis of this found, they successfully assembled an artificial Z-scheme photosynthesis system with redox ions for overall water splitting under visible light illumination. What’s more, this group even developed an all-solid plasmon-induced Z-scheme system for overall water splitting, very recently. This is more important and challenge to achieve overall water splitting in an all-solid artificial photosynthesis system. This work has been published in J. Catal. 
   This work was supported financially by National Natural Science Foundation of China, 973 National Project (Grant No. 2014CB239400), the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the DICP Innovation Foundation. (Text and Imaged by WANG Shengyang)