3D Au nanoparticle lattices in MoO3 for tunable optical and thermo-electrical properties

Isaković, Senad; Držić, Juraj; Periša, Ivana; Car, Tihomir; Bernstorff, Sigrid; Đekić, Maja; Mičetić, Maja (2026) 3D Au nanoparticle lattices in MoO3 for tunable optical and thermo-electrical properties. Nanoscale, 18 (6). pp. 3377-3386. ISSN 2040-3364

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Official URL: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/202...

Abstract

Incorporating noble-metal nanoparticles into semiconductors offers a powerful means to tailor their functional properties. Here, we demonstrate that embedding ordered three-dimensional lattices of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) into MoO3 thin films via magnetron sputtering enables broad tunability of the optical and thermo-electrical behavior. The formation of regular Au NP lattices, with controlled particle sizes, interparticle separations, and ordering, is achieved through precise adjustment of the deposition temperature and layer thickness conditions. Localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) arising from Au NPs-and their coupling at small separations-induce a strong modulation of the optical absorption across a wide spectral range. Simultaneously, the film's electrical resistance can be tuned by up to six orders of magnitude, while the activation energy and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) are reduced by up to fifty-fold compared to pure MoO3. These findings offer relevant information for designing oxide–plasmonic hybrid materials, highlighting their potential for next-generation optoelectronic, sensing, and energy-harvesting devices.

Item Type:

Article

Uncontrolled Keywords:

gold nanoparticles; thin-films; size dependence; photochromism

Subjects:

NATURAL SCIENCES > Physics

Divisions:

Division of Materials Physics

Projects: