Effect of substrate on surface-enhanced Raman scattering of molecules adsorbed on immobilized silver nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles were assembled on polyvinylpyridine (PVP) derivatized glass slides. Charge transfer between the adsorbed 4-aminothiophenol (PATP) and the immobilized silver nanoparticles was studied by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy with 1064 nm excitation, and compared with that of the silver nanoparticles in the colloid. It was demonstrated that the positive charges of the PVP layer could alter the charge distribution in the immobilized nanoparticles and induce the formation of the dipole in the nanoparticles, leading to less charge transfer from the metal to the adsorbed molecules. The coadsorption of chloride ions on the surface of the immobilized silver nanoparticles resulted in the redistribution of the charges in the nanoparticles and, in turn, altered the charge transfer between the adsorbed PATP molecules and the silver nanoparticles.