Template-activated strategy toward one-step coating silica colloidal microspheres with sliver

Template-activated strategy was developed to coat silica (SiO2) colloidal microspheres with silver in one step, based on one-pot hydrothermal treatment of silver nitrate, PVP (poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)), and SiO2 colloidal microspheres in ammonia solution. In our reaction system, the surface of SiO2 colloidal microspheres was continually activated with negative-charged SiO(-) groups in ammonia solution, which accumulated [Ag(NH3)2](+) or Ag(+) ions around the SiO2 colloidal microspheres through electrostatic attraction; thereafter these ions could be reduced into Ag nanoparticles in situ by the weak reducer PVP in the solution, and then acted as seeds for the subsequent complete silver coating with the reaction proceeding. Therefore, the traditional three steps for complete silver coating, including prior surface modification, seeding, and subsequent growing, were effectively integrated into one step. The experimental results exhibited that perfect SiO2/Ag core/shell composite microspheres were successfully synthesized through optimizing the reaction parameters like the solvent ingredient, reducer, and the reaction temperature. Additionally, these obtained uniform composite microspheres were further used as SERS substrate by using R6G and thiram as probe molecules, and showed excellent trace detection of these organic chemicals in solution.