Open AccessBright blue photoluminescence from the amorphous carbon via surface plasmon enhancement
Author(s) -
Zhe Li,
Xiang Li,
Zhaohui Ren,
Qian Gao,
Xiwen Zhang,
Gaorong Han
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.19.017935
Subject(s) - photoluminescence , materials science , surface plasmon , surface roughness , amorphous solid , surface plasmon resonance , amorphous carbon , optoelectronics , nanostructure , nanoparticle , optics , thin film , surface finish , nanotechnology , plasmon , composite material , chemistry , crystallography , physics
Blue photoluminescence (PL) from hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films has been successfully enhanced via surface plasmons (SPs). a-C:H films with different thickness were deposited on Ag interlayers, of which the nanostructure was tuned from nanoparticles (NPs) to continuous films via processing conditions control. The PL enhancement factor was found to increase with the Ag NP growth and the surface roughness of the continuous Ag interlayer. A PL enhancement factor of more than 9 times has been successfully achieved when the 43 nm-thick a-C:H film coupled to an Ag interlayer with the peak surface roughness. a-C:H films with SP-enhanced PL have therefore been demonstrated to be promising for light-emitting applications.