Plasmonic Microscopy

Abstract Modern optical microscopy has been a key driver of advancements in nanoscience and life science. Plasmonic microscopy (PM), which uses surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) as its light source, is widely recognized as a powerful label‐free imaging technique for studying interfacial phenomena and analyzing nanoscale samples. The unique physical properties of SPPs—such as strong light confinement and field enhancement—have enabled super‐resolution imaging beyond the diffraction limit and ultrasensitive detection at the single‐molecule level. Various configurations of PM have been developed, ranging from scanning plasmon near‐field microscopy to wide‐field surface plasmon resonance microscopy, each offering distinct advantages in spatial resolution, temporal resolution, sensitivity, or throughput for specific applications. This review provides an overview of the PM family, highlighting the diverse mechanisms of SPP generation, SPP–matter interactions, and signal detection. It also covers emerging technologies that combine PM with computational optics, 2D materials, and deep learning to enhance performance. This review aims to serve as a practical guide for selecting and applying PM techniques and to inspire the development of next‐generation optical microscopy.