Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) plasmonic structures have attracted great attention because abnormal wetting behavior of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) on 3D nanostructure can enhance the localized surface plasmons (LSPs). However, previous 3D plasmonic nanostructures inherently had weak plasmonic light absorption, low electrical conductivity, and optical transmittance. Here, we fabricated a novel 3D plasmonic nanostructure composed of Ag NPs as the metal for strong LSPs and 3D nano-branched indium tin oxide (ITO BRs) as a transparent and conductive framework. The Ag NPs formed on the ITO BRs have a more dewetted behavior than those formed on the ITO films. We experimentally investigated the reasons for the dewetting behavior of Ag NPs concerning the geometry of ITO BRs. The spherical Ag NPs are spatially separated and have high density, thereby resulting in strong LSPs. Finite-domain time-difference simulation evidenced that spatially-separated, high-density and spherical Ag NPs formed on ITO BRs dramatically boost the localized electric field in the active layer of organic solar cells (OSCs). Photocurrent of PTB7:PCBM OSCs with the ITO BRs/Ag NPs increased by 14%.
Highlights
Controlling the wettability of metal on target surfaces such as oxides and polymer is one of the most classical challenges in many theoretical and engineering fields because the morphology of metal film is closely related to the device performance and stability[1,2,3,4]
We used the Ag as the metal film for strong localized surface plasmons (LSPs) and 3D nano-branched indium tin oxide (ITO BRs) as the framework because the surface migration of Ag can be controlled by low-temperature heating and the ITO is an ideal material for optoelectronic devices due to high electrical conductivity and optical transparency
The shadowing effect can enhance the formation of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on ITO nano-branches (ITO BRs)
Summary
Controlling the wettability of metal on target surfaces such as oxides and polymer is one of the most classical challenges in many theoretical and engineering fields because the morphology of metal film is closely related to the device performance and stability[1,2,3,4]. Several calculations and experimental results have been reported that the additional line tension of nanoscale particles on the surface can increase the contact angle, resulting in a more spherical type of w etting[7,8,9,10] To overcome these problems, 3-dimensional (3D) plasmonic structures were demonstrated by attaching the plasmonic NPs on zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs)[38,51], titanium oxide ( TiO2) NRs22,28,52,53, carbon nanotubes (CNTs)[26,54] and polymeric n anofiber[20]. We used the Ag as the metal film for strong LSPs and 3D nano-branched indium tin oxide (ITO BRs) as the framework because the surface migration of Ag can be controlled by low-temperature heating and the ITO is an ideal material for optoelectronic devices due to high electrical conductivity and optical transparency. Because the spatially separated Ag NPs on 3D ITO BRs can boost the localized electric field, photocurrent in PTB7:PCBM organic solar cells (OSCs) enhanced by 14% when the 3D plasmonic structure was embedded in the active layer
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