Abstract Thin films of Au-CuO plasmonic nanohybrids were fabricated by simple thermal evaporation. SEM and XRD investigations unveiled the impact of annealing on the structural properties and morphology of the synthesized Au-CuO hybrid thin film. Au nanoparticle decoration onto CuO thin film significantly altered the photocatalytic activity, structural and optical properties of CuO thin film. The as-prepared Au-CuO nanostructured hybrid plasmonic thin film showed improved photocatalytic efficiency for decomposition of MG and MB than pristine CuO and annealed Au-CuO thin film samples. The improved photocatalytic efficiency of Au-CuO hybrid nanostructured thin film is attributed to reduction in the recombination of charge carriers in CuO nanostructures and improvement in light utilization capability due to attachment of Au nanoparticles on nanostructured CuO thin film. Cracks in Au-CuO nanohybrid thin film facilitated enhanced adsorption of dye molecules and played an essential role in improving the photocatalytic efficiency.

中文翻译：

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制备具有增强光催化活性的 Au-CuO 混合等离子体纳米结构薄膜

摘要 通过简单的热蒸发制备了 Au-CuO 等离子体纳米杂化物薄膜。SEM 和 XRD 研究揭示了退火对合成的 Au-CuO 混合薄膜的结构特性和形态的影响。CuO薄膜上的Au纳米颗粒装饰显着改变了CuO薄膜的光催化活性、结构和光学性质。与原始的 CuO 和退火的 Au-CuO 薄膜样品相比，所制备的 Au-CuO 纳米结构混合等离子体薄膜对 MG 和 MB 的分解具有更高的光催化效率。Au-CuO 混合纳米结构薄膜的光催化效率提高归因于 CuO 纳米结构中载流子复合的减少和由于 Au 纳米颗粒附着在纳米结构 CuO 薄膜上而提高光利用能力。Au-CuO 纳米杂化薄膜中的裂纹促进了染料分子的吸附增强，并在提高光催化效率方面发挥了重要作用。