Plasmon-enhanced photocurrent of Ge-doped InGaO thin film transistors using silver nanoparticles

Germanium-doped indium-gallium oxide (GIGO) thin film transistors (TFTs) decorated with silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared to study the plasmon effect. GIGO films of various thicknesses were deposited on SiO₂/Si substrates, and Ag NPs (∼25 nm in diameter) were formed using a thermal evaporator and a postannealing process. The Ag NPs effectively absorbed light in the wavelength range of 500 and 600 nm, which corresponds to the plasmonic effect. Due to the plasmon resonance of Ag NPs, a significantly enhanced photocurrent was observed on the devices. The current increased by 348% with exposure to light when the Ag NPs were formed at the interface between the 10-nm-thick GIGO film and SiO₂ substrate. The increased photocurrent revealed the presence of strong coupling between the localized plasmon and electrical carrier of the devices. The results show that the photocurrent of GIGO TFTs can be greatly enhanced when the plasmonic Ag NPs are located in the channel region of the devices.