PLASMON RESONANCE IN THIN ZnO FILMS WITH NANOPARTICLES OF NOBLE METALS

Abstract

The main disadvantage of traditional metal oxides, including zinc oxide (ZnO), is poor absorption of light in the visible range. Among the many ways to solve this problem, the creation of their composition with noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) is the most interesting from both practical and theoretical points of view. Due to the effect of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), characterized by a light absorption band in the visible range, the functionality of oxide semiconductors can be significantly improved. This work presents the results of preparation of composite films based on ZnO with nanoparticles of noble metals (silver Ag, gold Au and their alloy AgAu) by magnetron sputtering, as well as the analysis of the LSPR effect in these composites. In ZnO:AgNPs films, the LSPR absorption was observed at 475 nm, while for ZnO:AuNPs at 535 nm. The AuAg alloy nanoparticles exhibit a maximum in the intermediate interval of these two values, i.e., in the region of 508 nm. The obtained data indicate that by controlling the composition of noble metal nanoparticles it is possible to effectively control the light absorption band in the visible range.