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Plasmonic ZnO/Ag Embedded Structures as Collecting Layers for Photogenerating Electrons in Solar Hydrogen Generation Photoelectrodes
Author(s) -
Chen Hao Ming,
Chen Chih Kai,
Tseng Ming Lun,
Wu Pin Chieh,
Chang Chia Min,
Cheng LiangChien,
Huang Hsin Wei,
Chan Ting Shan,
Huang DingWei,
Liu RuShi,
Tsai Din Ping
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201202547
Subject(s) - plasmon , materials science , nanorod , photocurrent , optoelectronics , charge carrier , surface plasmon resonance , plasmonic solar cell , semiconductor , surface plasmon , nanotechnology , femtosecond , laser , nanoparticle , energy conversion efficiency , optics , polymer solar cell , physics
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.