Transition metal-coated nanoparticle films: vibrational characterization with surface-enhanced Raman scattering

The utilization of surface-attached gold nanoparticles as templates for generating Pt-group particles displaying near-optimal surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) characteristics is described. Essentially epitaxial transition metal coatings down to the monolayer level can be prepared, most readily by the spontaneous replacement of an electrochemically deposited copper layer by the desired Pt-group metal. The and essentially pinhole-free nature of the coated nanoparticles is demonstrated from the form of the SER spectra for chemisorbed carbon monoxide and ethylene. The potential of the present strategy for synthesizing relatively monodispersed "core-shell" nanoparticles using a myriad of coating materials, also displaying SERS activity, is pointed out.