Controllable synthesis of plasmonic ZnO/Au core/shell nanocable arrays on ITO glass

•Ordered ZnO/Au core/shell nanocable arrays on ITO glass have been achieved by using a facile method.•Tunable shell thickness and inner diameter in the ZnO/Au core/shell nanocable arrays have been demonstrated.•Distinct plasmonic properties have been observed for ZnO/Au core/shell nanocable arrays.•Such ZnO/Au nanocable arrays exhibit excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance.

By sequential hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanowire arrays and electrochemical deposition of Au, large scale vertically aligned ZnO/Au core/shell nanocable arrays on ITO glass with tunable shell thickness and inner diameter have been successfully achieved. Detailed characterizations on the nanostructures morphologies, compositions, and microstructures were systematically carried out, which disclose the growth behaviors of the ZnO/Au nanocbale. Furthermore, incorporation of Au shell onto ZnO core resulted in surface plasmon resonance in the extinction spectrum. Such ZnO/Au nanocable arrays exhibit excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance. Consequently, this study provides new opportunity for controllable Au decoration and functionalization of low-dimensional nanostructures.