measure and compare the effects of a two-dimensional (2D) SiO2 nanorod array and a 2D nanorod-assisted Ag coating on the optical properties of organic luminescent [tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum: coumarin 6(Alq(3):C6)] thin films. The addition of these arrays enhances the efficiency of extraction of guided light from the Ag/Alq(3): C6 and Alq(3): C6 films, because of the resulting surface plasmon cross coupling and Bragg scattering. Our comparison shows that the 2D nanorod-assisted Bragg scattering modes increase the emission intensity by one order of magnitude more than the 2D nanorod-assisted Ag SPCC modes. We have obtained a significant enhancement (a factor of similar to 9.6) of the photoluminescence intensity at the interface between Alq(3): C6 and air for 365 nm excitation of Alq(3):C6 layers deposited on 2D SiO2 nanorod-modified substrates. (c) 2005 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.