Preparation of ordered Ag_NW@Au_NP hybrid nanowires and their influences on fluorescence properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene)

Ordered Ag nanowires(Ag_NW)@Au nanoparticles(Au_NP) hybrid nanowires were synthesized on bare Si substrate using Ag_NW-water solution and HAuCl₄-ethanol solution by three-phase-interface method and galvanic displacement reaction. Field emission SEM (FESEM) and high resolution TEM (HRTEM) were employed to analyze the influence of HAuCl₄-ethanol concentration and reaction time of galvanic displacement reaction on the morphology of the hybrid nanowires. Fluorescence spectra and laser-Raman spectra were carried out to analyze the influence of various ordered Ag_NW@Au_NP hybrid nanowires on the fluorescence properties of conjugated polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). The results show that the Au_NP particle sizes of ordered Ag_NW@Au_NP hybrid nanowires increase when the reaction time or the concentration of HAuCl₄-ethanol solution increases. The fluorescence properties of P3HT films are improved on various ordered Ag_NW@Au_NP hybrid nanowires compared with those on bare silicon substrate, but the fluorescence intensity of P3HT films on the ordered hybrid nanowires decreases as the galvanic displacement process.