Plasmon-enhanced photoluminescence from SnO2 nanostructures decorated with Au nanoparticles

We report significantly enhanced photoluminescence from hybrid nanostructured Au/SnO2 thin films due to surface plasmons excited in Au nanoparticles decorating SnO2 nanostructured thin film. Nanostructured thin films with Au nanoparticles decorated SnO2 nanostructures were prepared by sputter deposition of ultrathin Au films following thermal evaporation of SnO2 film. The effects of deposition of ultrathin film of Au nanoparticles on the morphology, structure and optical response of nanostructured SnO2 film were investigated. Nanocrystalline SnO2, Au, Sn and Au-Sn alloy were revealed by XRD analysis. PL studies revealed that Au nanoparticle decoration of nanostructured SnO2 film led to highly enhanced UV emission. The mechanism of strong enhancement of PL from nanostructured SnO2 film is tentatively proposed. The coupling of excitonic emission from SnO2 nanostructures and excited surface plasmons in Au nanoparticles led to the observed strong PL enhancement. The hybrid nanostructured Au/SnO2 thin films with strong UV emission are promising for designing efficient optical and photoelectrical devices.