title: Selective photochemical synthesis of Ag nanoparticles on position-controlled ZnO nanorods for the enhancement of yellow-green light emission.
abstract: A novel technique for the selective photochemical synthesis of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) on ZnO nanorod arrays is established by combining ultraviolet-assisted nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL) for the definition of growth sites, hydrothermal reaction for the position-controlled growth of ZnO nanorods, and photochemical reduction for the decoration of Ag NPs on the ZnO nanorods. During photochemical reduction, the size distribution and loading of Ag NPs on ZnO nanorods can be tuned by varying the UV-irradiation time. The photochemical reduction is hypothesized to facilitate the adsorbed citrate ions on the surface of ZnO, allowing Ag ions to preferentially form Ag NPs on ZnO nanorods. The ratio of visible emission to ultraviolet (UV) emission for the Ag NP-decorated ZnO nanorod arrays, synthesized for 30 min, is 20.5 times that for the ZnO nanorod arrays without Ag NPs. The enhancement of the visible emission is believed to associate with the surface plasmon (SP) effect of Ag NPs. The Ag NP-decorated ZnO nanorod arrays show significant SP-induced enhancement of yellow-green light emission, which could be useful in optoelectronic applications. The technique developed here requires low processing temperatures (120 °C and lower) and no high-vacuum deposition tools, suitable for applications such as flexible electronics.
authors.affiliation: Technology Development Division, Korea Advanced Nanofab Center (KANC), Suwon 443270, Korea. hyeongho.park@kanc.re.kr.
authors.forename: Hyeong-Ho
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Keun Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ahrum
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Dong-Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joondong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Young Su
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hee Kwan
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: In-Geun
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Dae
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hyun-Beom
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Ho Kun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Kyung Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ho Kwan
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Won-Kyu
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyung-Ho
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Park