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Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Based on a Silver-Film Semi-Coated Nanosphere Array
Wending Zhang1, Tianyang Xue2, Lu Zhang3
1MOE Key Laboratory of Material Physics and Chemistry under Extraordinary Conditions and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Optical Information Technology, School of Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China. zhangwd@nwpu.edu.cn.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 22, 2019
Summary
We developed a cost-effective silver-film nanosphere array for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). This substrate demonstrates high sensitivity and uniformity for detecting analytes like rhodamine-6G, reaching 10-10 M sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Spectroscopy
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) requires optimized substrates for sensitive analyte detection.
- Fabricating uniform and highly efficient SERS substrates remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a convenient, economical, and high-performance SERS substrate.
- To optimize the localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) effect through controlled silver film deposition.
Main Methods:
- A modified self-assembly method combined with vacuum thermal evaporation was used to create silver (Ag)-film semi-coated polystyrene (PS) nanosphere arrays.
- Varying Ag film thickness was employed to tune surface morphology and LSPR.
- 3D-finite-difference time-domain simulations were performed to analyze electric field enhancement.
Main Results:
- A 10 nm Ag film thickness resulted in tens of times electric field intensity enhancement.
- The SERS substrate exhibited excellent sensitivity and reliability with rhodamine-6G and rhodamine-B, achieving a detection limit of 10-10 M.
- Raman mapping confirmed the substrate's excellent uniformity, with an estimated Raman enhancement factor of 5.1 × 106.
Conclusions:
- The fabricated Ag-film nanosphere array substrate offers a promising platform for sensitive and uniform SERS detection.
- The convenient and economical fabrication method facilitates potential applications in various Raman examination scenarios.
