Negative photoconductivity in silver nanocubes prepared by simple photochemical method

Abstract

Silver nanocubes embedded in polyvinyl alcohol matrix have been synthesised by photoirradiation technique. The composite films are characterised by FESEM, XRD, UV-Visible absorption and photoluminescence. These show characteristics of silver nanoparticles with FESEM showing the cubic shape. The photoconductivity study of these films shows decrease in photocurrent with light irradiation. Such negative photoconductivity behaviour may be attributed to dominant scattering of electrons by excited surface plasmon polaritons in nanoscale.

Keywords:

• silver nanoparticles
• surface plasmon resonance
• photoluminescence
• polymer composite
• polaritons

Acknowledgements

The authors express their deep sense of gratitude to Dr M. Ghosh (IACS, Kolkata) for FESEM and XRD measurements and Dr P.K. Boruah (Department of Chemistry, Gauhati University, Guwahati) for PL measurements.