3D Au Nanoparticle Lattices in MoO3 for Tunable Optical and Thermo-Electrical Properties

The data shows that embedding ordered three-dimensional lattices of Au NPs into MoO3 thin films via magnetron sputtering enables broad tunability of 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 de- position temperature and layer thickness conditions. Localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) arising from Au NPs—and their coupling at small separations—induce strong modulation of 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.