Tungsten Nitride with a Two-Dimensional Multilayer Structure for Boosting the Surface-Enhanced Raman Effect.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• High-performance surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates are crucial for sensitive chemical detection.
• Developing cost-effective and robust SERS materials remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel two-dimensional (2D) tungsten nitride (WN) material for SERS applications.
• To evaluate the SERS activity, homogeneity, and stability of the WN substrates.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of 2D multilayer WN via nitriding a WO2.90 precursor.
• Characterization of WN structure and morphology.
• Assessment of SERS performance using model analytes and environmental contaminants.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized 2D multilayer WN with abundant "hot spots" and inter-nanosheet gaps exhibiting strong local surface plasmon resonance.
• Demonstrated excellent SERS activity, homogeneity, and stability under harsh conditions (acid, alkali, light).
• Achieved strong Raman enhancement signals for environmental contaminants like dichlorophenol and butylated hydroxyanisole.

Conclusions:

• The developed 2D WN material serves as an inexpensive, high-activity, and universal SERS substrate.
• This research offers a new strategy for designing advanced SERS materials.
• The WN substrate shows great potential for detecting environmental pollutants.