Mechanisms in photoluminescence enhancement of ZnO nanorod arrays by the localized surface plasmons of Ag nanoparticles

► Surface plasmons enhancement mechanisms for different photoluminescence bands of ZnO are confirmed to be different. ► The enhancement of near-band-edge emission of ZnO was attributed to the giant local electronic fields of Ag nanoparticles. ► The enhancement of visible emission band was due to the exciton-localized surface plasmons coupling effect.