Core-shell nanoparticle of silver coated with light-emitting rubrene: Surface plasmon enhanced photoluminescence

► Fabrication of Ag-rubrene core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) through hydrothermal process. ► Enhancement of PL efficiency of the core-shell single NP by about 300 times. ► The increase of the PL can be explained by energy transfer effect in surface plasmon resonance coupling.