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Silver nanowire layer-by-layer films as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering
Ricardo F Aroca1, Paul J G Goulet, David S dos Santos
1Materials & Surface Science Group, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada N9B 3P4. rarocal@cogeco.ca
Analytical Chemistry
|January 15, 2005
Summary
Highly stable dendrimer/silver nanowire films were fabricated using layer-by-layer assembly for enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications. These novel films demonstrate significant signal enhancement and trace detection capabilities for various analytes.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) requires stable substrates with controlled nanoparticle arrangement.
- Dendrimers offer a versatile platform for nanoparticle immobilization and controlled assembly.
- Silver nanowires are effective plasmonic nanomaterials for SERS applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate stable, SERS-active films using a layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of dendrimers and silver nanowires.
- To investigate the effect of dendrimer immobilization on silver nanowire spacing and aggregation.
- To evaluate the performance of the fabricated films as SERS substrates for trace analyte detection.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of silver nanowires (AgNWs) in solution.
- Layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of AgNWs onto a dendrimer-coated glass substrate.
- Characterization using UV-visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and SERS/SERRS.
- Analysis of various analytes using different excitation wavelengths (442-785 nm).
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of stable dendrimer/AgNW LBL films.
- Dendrimer effectively immobilized AgNWs, controlling spacing and aggregation.
- Films exhibited excellent SERS/SERRS activity with significant signal enhancement.
- Demonstrated trace detection capability for multiple analytes across the visible spectrum.
- Analyte deposition via casting and Langmuir-Blodgett techniques confirmed film versatility.
Conclusions:
- Dendrimer/AgNW LBL films are highly stable and effective SERS substrates.
- The LBL technique provides control over nanostructure formation for enhanced plasmonic properties.
- These films offer a promising platform for sensitive and versatile trace chemical detection.