Localized surface plasmon enhanced photoluminescence of ZnO nanosheets by Au nanoparticles

•We demonstrated a facile hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanosheet structures.•Au nanoparticles were assembled onto surface of ZnO nanosheets.•Enhanced photoluminescence performance was observed for Au–ZnO nanosheets.•Au nanoparticles showed strong localized surface plasmon effects at ZnO interface.

ZnO nanosheets were synthesized by a facile low temperature hydrothermal method and the Au nanoparticles were decorated on the surface of ZnO nanosheets by an in-situ solution method. The ZnO nanostructures had sheet-like morphology with relatively uniform size and possessed high crystallinity. The average diameter of Au nanoparticles decorated on the ZnO nanosheets was around 10–20 nm. The ultraviolet emission from Au decorated ZnO nanosheets was greatly enhanced and the green emission was significantly suppressed compared with the bare ZnO nanosheets. This excellent photoluminescence performance was attributable to the surface-plasmon-mediated sequential transfer of defect energy from ZnO to Au and electron transfer from excited Au to ZnO.

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