The　sun　offers　a　clean　and　renewable　energy　cornucopia,　whereas　how　to　utilize　this　inexhaustible　yet　decentralized　energy　with　the　assistance　of　appropriate　media　is　an　enduring　topic.　Plasmonic　metal-based　nanostructures　(mainly　Au　and　Ag)　represent　a　class　of　fascinating　materials　for　solar　energy　conversion　due　to　their　exclusive　surface　plasmon　resonance　(SPR)-enabled　light-harvesting　capability.　In　contrast　to　these　plasmonic　metals　with　characteristic　SPR　peaks,　modulating　the　optical　absorption　peaks　of　nonplasmonic　metals　(e.g.,　small　Pt　nanoparticles)　in　the　visible　region　but　without　size　alteration　is　a　grand　challenge.　Until　recently,　we　demonstrated　a　near　field　scattering　(NFS)　optical　model　to　manipulate　the　absorption　peaks　of　Pt　nanoparticles　by　adjusting　their　dielectric　environment,　sowing　the　seeds　for　tuning　the　optical　absorption　property　of　other　metal　nanoparticles　and　even　semiconductor　quantum　dots.　It　is　the　purpose　of　the　present　Perspective　to　retrospect　the　history　of　NFS　optical　model　and　guide　the　function-oriented　design　of　NFS-based　nanostructures　for　artificial　photoredox　transformation.　©　2023　American　Chemical　Society.