Photothermal conversion element and manufacturing method thereof, photothermal power generation apparatus and detection method of substance to be detected

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photothermal conversion element having high photothermal conversion efficiency and a method of manufacturing the same, a photothermal power generation device, and a method of detecting a material to be detected.SOLUTION: A photothermal conversion element 1 includes metal nanoparticle stacked structures 10 and substrates 2 and 3. The metal nanoparticle stacked structures 10 are fixed to a surface of the substrate 2. The metal nanoparticle stacked structures 10 are fixed to the substrate 2 by coating the substrate 2 with a dispersion liquid in which the metal nanoparticle stacked structures 10 are dispersed and then drying the substrate 2. The photothermal conversion element 1 is formed by putting the substrate 3 on teh substrate 2. Light transmitted through at least one of the substrates 2 and 3 causes localized surface plasmon resonance of the metal nanoparticle stack structures 10, which generate heat. A photothermal power generation device comprises the photothermal conversion element 1 and a photothermal conversion part. A material to be detected can be detected by solidifying or melting a thermally solidifying material or thermally melting material in the dispersion liquid as the material to be detected with the heat generated through the light irradiation.