Tailoring the photoluminescence of ZnO nanowires using Au nanoparticles

Rational design of hybrid nanostructures through attaching nanowires with nanoparticles is an effective route to enhance the existing functionalities or to explore new ones. We carry out a systematic investigation on the photoluminescence of ZnO nanowire-Au nanoparticle hybrid nanostructures synthesized by attaching Au nanoparticles onto ZnO nanowires. Citrate-stabilized 40 nm Au nanoparticles effectively quench the green emission and enhance the UV emission of the ZnO nanowires, which is consistent with the wavelength-dependent generation of surface plasmon. The UV/green emission intensity ratio could be reversibly and reproducibly tailored by attaching/detaching Au nanoparticles. This enhancement of UV emission diminishes if the Au nanoparticles are coated with a polymer layer. We also find that the orange-red emission of the ZnO nanowires is related to the excess oxygen on the ZnO surface, and it is also tunable via annealing and surface modifications.