Enhanced UV Emission from ZnO on Silver Nanoparticle Arrays by the Surface Plasmon Resonance Effect

• Main Authors: Xiao Wang, Qiong Ye, Li-Hua Bai, Xi Su, Ting-Ting Wang, Tao-Wei Peng, Xiao-Qi Zhai, Yi Huo, Hao Wu, Chang Liu, Yu-Yu Bu, Xiao-Hua Ma, Yue Hao, Jin-Ping Ao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2021-01-01
• Series: Nanoscale Research Letters
• Subjects: Surface plasmons; Zinc oxide; Silver nanoparticle arrays; Anodic aluminum oxide templates
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-020-03470-2
• ISSN: 1556-276X

Abstract Periodical silver nanoparticle (NP) arrays were fabricated by magnetron sputtering method with anodic aluminum oxide templates to enhance the UV light emission from ZnO by the surface plasmon resonance effect. Theoretical simulations indicated that the surface plasmon resonance wavelength depended on the diameter and space of Ag NP arrays. By introducing Ag NP arrays with the diameter of 40 nm and space of 100 nm, the photoluminescence intensity of the near band-edge emission from ZnO was twofold enhanced. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurement and energy band analysis indicated that the UV light emission enhancement was attributed to the coupling between the surface plasmons in Ag NP arrays and the excitons in ZnO with the improved spontaneous emission rate and enhanced local electromagnetic fields.