Electrolysis synthetic silver nanoparticles enhanced light emission from CdSe quantum dots

An electrolysis method for preparation of Ag nanoparticle (NP) films on the transparent conductive substrates was developed. The morphologies and sizes of Ag NPs can be controlled by the electrolysis time and thermal treatment modes. The enhancement of photoluminescence from CdSe quantum dots due to the localized surface plasmons (LSPs) of Ag nanoparticles was also investigated. The strongest enhancement is as high as 10 times. Additionally, the effect of thermal treatment process, including the rapid thermal treatment and slow thermal process, on the morphology of the Ag nanoparticle was also studied. The result shows that the slow thermal treatment process would be favorable for the formation of larger Ag NPs and increasing the ratio of worm-like Ag NPs, which contain most of the “hot spots”, increases the quantum yields of LSPs.

► We developed an electrolysis method to prepare Ag nanoparticle (NP) films.
► Ag NP morphology and size are controlled by electrolysis time and thermal treatment modes.
► Worm-like Ag NPs lead to stronger photoluminescence enhancement in CdSe/Ag system.