Influence of excitation wavelength on photoluminescence properties of CdSe/CdZnS colloidal quantum dots on micro-patterned silver films

We examined the excitation wavelength dependence of photoluminescence (PL) property in CdSe/CdZnS colloidal quantum dots (QDs) on micro-patterned silver (Ag) films (MPSFs). PL quenching of the fluorophore was observed when the excitation wavelength was out of the absorption range of MPSF substrates. In contrast, when the excitation wavelength was within the absorption spectrum range, the PL intensity on Ag films was markedly enhanced by a factor of two. It was expected that the principal causes on the PL properties of the fluorophore on Ag films would be the energy match between the incident light and the surface plasmon of Ag metal films.