title: Nanoarchitectonics of a Au nanoprism array on WO3film for synergistic optoelectronic response.
abstract: A layered photoelectrode consisting of a conductive indium tin oxide substrate, a WO3nanocrystalline film and an array of Au nanoprisms was fabricated via a multistep process. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy showed that the Au nanoprisms had a uniform size and shape and formed periodic hexagonal patterns on the WO3film. The optical absorption of the photoelectrode combined the intrinsic absorption of WO3and plasmonic absorption of Au. Using this photoelectrode, we investigated the effect of the Au nanoprism array on the optoelectronic conversion performance of the WO3film. Photoelectrochemical measurement indicated that the array substantially enhanced the photocurrent in the WO3film. Electrochemical impedance measurements revealed that the Schottky junctions formed between Au and WO3can facilitate the separation of photogenerated carriers as well as the interfacial carrier transfer. In this study, we demonstrate that covering a semiconductor with plasmonic noble metal nanoparticles can improve its optoelectronic conversion efficiency.
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan; Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Photocatalytic Materials Center, National Institute for Materials Scienc (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Xiaoqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan; Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Photocatalytic Materials Center, National Institute for Materials Scienc (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan; Photocatalytic Materials Center, National Institute for Materials Scienc (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Photocatalytic Materials Center, National Institute for Materials Scienc (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kako
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan; Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Photocatalytic Materials Center, National Institute for Materials Scienc (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Jinhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
keywords: Au nanoprism array; WO3 film; localized surface plasmon resonance; optoelectronic conversion