title: Tailoring the photoluminescence of ZnO nanowires using Au nanoparticles.
abstract: Rational design of hybrid nanostructures through attaching nanowires with nanoparticles is an effective route to enhance the existing functionalities or to explore new ones. We carry out a systematic investigation on the photoluminescence of ZnO nanowire-Au nanoparticle hybrid nanostructures synthesized by attaching Au nanoparticles onto ZnO nanowires. Citrate-stabilized 40 nm Au nanoparticles effectively quench the green emission and enhance the UV emission of the ZnO nanowires, which is consistent with the wavelength-dependent generation of surface plasmon. The UV/green emission intensity ratio could be reversibly and reproducibly tailored by attaching/detaching Au nanoparticles. This enhancement of UV emission diminishes if the Au nanoparticles are coated with a polymer layer. We also find that the orange-red emission of the ZnO nanowires is related to the excess oxygen on the ZnO surface, and it is also tunable via annealing and surface modifications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: G Z
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu