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Hierarchical Metal/Semiconductor Nanostructure for Efficient Water Splitting
Author(s) -
Thiyagarajan Pradheep,
Ahn HyoJin,
Lee JungSoo,
Yoon JongChul,
Jang JiHyun
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.201202756
Subject(s) - materials science , nanostructure , water splitting , nanowire , semiconductor , nanotechnology , plasmon , nanoparticle , optoelectronics , visible spectrum , light emitting diode , raman scattering , surface plasmon , diode , raman spectroscopy , photocatalysis , optics , biochemistry , chemistry , physics , catalysis
A hierarchically patterned metal/semiconductor (gold nanoparticles/ZnO nanowires) nanostructure with maximized photon trapping effects is fabricated via interference lithography (IL) for plasmon enhanced photo‐electrochemical water splitting in the visible region of light. Compared with unpatterned (plain) gold nanoparticles‐coated ZnO NWs (Au NPs/ZnO NWs), the hierarchically patterned Au NPs/ZnO NWs hybrid structures demonstrate higher and wider absorption bands of light leading to increased surface enhanced Raman scattering due to the light trapping effects achieved by the combination of two different nanostructure dimensions; furthermore, pronounced plasmonic enhancement of water splitting is verified in the hierarchically patterned Au NPs/ZnO NWs structures in the visible region. The excellent performance of the hierarchically patterned Au NPs/ZnO NWs indicates that the combination of pre‐determined two different dimensions has great potential for application in solar energy conversion, light emitting diodes, as well as SERS substrates and photoelectrodes for water splitting.