Since the importance of plasmon nanostructure in areas of nano photonics, biochemical sensing and medical diagnostics ect., manufacturing technology of plasma nanostructure has recently caused a lot focus for people researching. By controlling the size, shape and composition of plasma nanostructures, one can adjust its optical and electrical properties over a wide range. With the advent of nanoscience and nanotechnology, plasmon nanostructure has developed rapidly, the coherent oscillations of free electron has on the incident light will cause localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the structure; besides, this phenomenon is associated with optical near field zoom, and has been used in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), biological testing and energy storage and conversion and other aspects.

 

Recently, Chinese and Japanese researchers have prepared hydrogen doped tungsten trioxide (WO₃) and MoO₃ which are named hydrogen molybdenum bronze and hydrogen tungsten bronze through a simple process of H-overflow method, the two substances showed strong localized surface plasmon resonance in the visible region. In addition, the researchers found that the adjustable plasmon resonance could be observed in a wide range by varying the stoichiometric composition; furthermore, this phenomenon is directly related with decreasing temperature, type of metal, the property of metal oxide which supports hydrogen reduction reaction and size as well as the oxidation treatment in the synthesis process. This result has provided direct evidence for in a hydrogen-doped metal oxides (such as WO₃, etc.) to achieve a semiconductor plasmon resonance, and may allow the large-scale application of cheap and abundant element on Earth.

 

Tungsten trioxide (WO₃) is a transition metal semiconductor with special N-type structure, the yellow or bright green crystalline powder, which is stable at room temperature, and extensively for preparation of tungsten metal and tungsten carbide powder; because of its special properties, it is widely used in the industry catalyst, photocatalyst, sensor, fireproof fabric, anti-radiation and other aspects.