Effect of an interface charge density wave on surface plasmon resonance in ZnO/Ag/ZnO thin films

The optical transmission spectra of ZnO/Ag/ZnO films showed a broad range of transmission enhancement due to a harmonic generated by surface plasmon resonance. This resonance was correlated with interface electrons between metallic Ag and dielectric ZnO layer. The interface charge density wave was calculated and compared with experimental results using Maxwell's equations with a modified boundary condition. Finally, an observed redshift in the transmission enhancement is discussed using both the Ohmic contact model and the Drude free electron model. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3442916]