Compact large area and high-quality Au film with a hierarchical structure and its application in SERS

We have described a novel and facile strategy for fabricating a compact large area and high-quality Au film with a hierarchical structure (HS) by using a polyaniline slice as a reductant. The unique morphology of the as-prepared Au HS film, which is controlled by the concentration of AuCl4(-), results in enhanced Raman signals toward probe molecules such as 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP), 2-naphthalenethiol (2-NAT) and 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA). The employed approach may shed some light on simultaneously fabricating and immobilizing unique Au micro/nanostructures.