Charging gold nanoparticles in ZnO by electric fields

Controlling the plasmon resonance frequency of metal nanostructures holds promise for both fundamental and applied research in optics. The plasmon resonance frequency depends on the number of free electrons in the metal. By adding or removing electrons to a metal nano-object, the plasmon resonance frequency shifts. In this study we indirectly change the number of free electrons in gold nanoparticles by applying an electrical potential difference over a heterostructure consisting of a ZnO layer with embedded gold nanoparticles. The potential difference induces shifts of defect energy levels in the ZnO by the electric field. This results in an exchange of electrons between particles and matrix which in turn modifies the gold nanoparticle plasmon properties. The positive charge shifts the ZnO optical absorption peak from 377 nm to 386 nm and shifts the nanoparticle plasmon from 549 nm to 542 nm. This electro-optical effect is a promising way to obtain fast optical switching in a solid state composition.