Enhanced Ultraviolet Emissionfrom Poly(vinyl alcohol)ZnO Nanoparticles Using a SiO2–Au Core/Shell Structure.

Enhanced near band gap edge (NBE) emissions of PVA–ZnOnanoparticleswere achieved by employing SiO2–Au core/shell nanostructureswhereas the defect-level emission (DLE) is greatly suppressed. A maximumenhancement of nearly 400% was observed using SiO2–Aufor the emission with optical resonance at 554 nm. SiO2–Au core/shell nanostructures also show a superior tunabilityof resonance energy as compared to that of the pure metal nanoparticles.The enhancement of the NBE emission and suppressed DLE is ascribedto the transfer of the energetic electrons excited by surface plasmonfrom metal nanoparticles to the conduction band of ZnO nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]