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Fabrication of Ag Nanoparticles Embedded in TiO 2 Nanotubes: Using Electrospun Nanofibers for Controlling Plasmonic Effects
Author(s) -
Jung MiHee,
Yun Yong Ju,
Chu MooJung,
Kang Man Gu
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201300834
Subject(s) - materials science , nanoparticle , nanofiber , atomic layer deposition , nanotechnology , photocurrent , chemical engineering , amorphous solid , plasmon , crystallite , calcination , coating , nanocomposite , electrospinning , fabrication , layer (electronics) , composite material , polymer , optoelectronics , medicine , chemistry , alternative medicine , organic chemistry , pathology , engineering , metallurgy , biochemistry , catalysis
Composites of electrospun poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) fibers and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were used as a soft template for coating with TiO 2 by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Whereas the as‐deposited TiO 2 layers on PEO fibers and Ag NPs were completely amorphous, the TiO 2 layers were transformed into polycrystalline TiO 2 nanotubes (NTs) with embedded Ag NPs after calcination. Their plasmonic effect can be controlled by varying the thickness of the dielectric Al 2 O 3 spacer between Ag NPs and dye molecules by means of the ALD process. Electronic and spectroscopic analyses demonstrated enhanced photocurrent generation and solar‐cell performance due to the intense electromagnetic field of the dye resulting from the surface plasmon effect of the Ag NPs.