Giant enhancement of bandgap emission of ZnO nanorods by platinum nanoparticles

Abstract

By the formation of ZnO and Pt nanocomposites, it is found that the bandgap emission can be greatly enhanced, while the defect emission is suppressed to the noise level. The photoluminescence intensity ratio between the bandgap and defect emission can be improved by up to 103 times. The underlying mechanism behind enhancement of the bandgap emission and quenching of the defect emission is a combination of the energy transfer between defects and surface plasmon resonance in Pt nanoparticles, as well as electron–hole pair generation and recombination in the ZnO nanorods. Our results will be very useful to manufacturers of highly efficient optoelectronic devices.