title: Plasmonic ZnO/Ag embedded structures as collecting layers for photogenerating electrons in solar hydrogen generation photoelectrodes.
abstract: A new fabrication strategy in which Ag plasmonics are embedded in the interface between ZnO nanorods and a conducting substrate is experimentally demonstrated using a femtosecond-laser (fs-laser)-induced plasmonic ZnO/Ag photoelectrodes. This fs-laser fabrication technique can be applied to generate patternable plasmonic nanostructures for improving their effectiveness in hydrogen generation. Plasmonic ZnO/Ag nanostructure photoelectrodes show an increase in the photocurrent of a ZnO nanorod photoelectrodes by higher than 85% at 0.5 V. Both localized surface plasmon resonance in metal nanoparticles and plasmon polaritons propagating at the metal/semiconductor interface are available for improving the capture of sunlight and collecting charge carriers. Furthermore, in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy is performed to monitor the plasmonic-generating electromagnetic field upon the interface between ZnO/Ag nanostructures. This can reveal induced vacancies on the conduction band of ZnO, which allow effective separation of charge carriers and improves the efficiency of hydrogen generation. Plasmon-induced effects enhance the photoresponse simultaneously, by improving optical absorbance and facilitating the separation of charge carriers.
authors: Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 106; Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 106.
authors: Hao Ming
authors: HM
authors: Chen
authors: Chih Kai
authors: CK
authors: Chen
authors: Ming Lun
authors: ML
authors: Tseng
authors: Pin Chieh
authors: PC
authors: Wu
authors: Chia Min
authors: CM
authors: Chang
authors: Liang-Chien
authors: LC
authors: Cheng
authors: Hsin Wei
authors: HW
authors: Huang
authors: Ting Shan
authors: TS
authors: Chan
authors: Ding-Wei
authors: DW
authors: Huang
authors: Ru-Shi
authors: RS
authors: Liu
authors: Din Ping
authors: DP
authors: Tsai
mesh_terms: D004566:Electrodes; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012834:Silver; D006859:Hydrogen; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Ag; ZnO; femtosecond-laser direct-write; hydrogen generation; plasmonics; silver oxide