Plasmonic ZnO/Ag Embedded Structures as Collecting Layers for Photogenerating Electrons in Solar Hydrogen Generation Photoelectrodes

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...

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Published in:Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Germany), 2013-09, Vol.9 (17), p.2926-2936
Main Authors: Chen, Hao Ming, Chen, Chih Kai, Tseng, Ming Lun, Wu, Pin Chieh, Chang, Chia Min, Cheng, Liang-Chien, Huang, Hsin Wei, Chan, Ting Shan, Huang, Ding-Wei, Liu, Ru-Shi, Tsai, Din Ping
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Charge carriers
Electrodes
femtosecond-laser direct-write
Fuel cells
Hydrogen - chemistry
hydrogen generation
Lasers
Light
Microelectronics
Nanocomposites
Nanomaterials
Nanorods
Nanostructure
Nanostructures - chemistry
Nanotechnology
Photochemistry - methods
Plasmonics
Silver
Silver - chemistry
silver oxide
Zinc oxide
Zinc Oxide - chemistry
ZnO
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Summary: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. 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 (fs)‐laser‐induced ZnO/Ag plasmonic photoelectrode. This fs‐laser technique can be applied to generate patternable plasmonic nanostructures for improving their effectiveness in hydrogen generation.
ISSN:1613-6810
1613-6829
DOI:10.1002/smll.201202547