Nanoporous silver fabricated with pretreated Ag-Al alloy toward surface enhanced Raman sensing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Nanoporous silver (NPS) offers a high surface-to-volume ratio, making it promising for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).
• Existing NPS fabrication methods often face challenges with long-term stability and uniform nanostructure formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a stable and high-performance NPS material for SERS applications.
• To investigate the role of alpha-terpineol (alpha-TPN) in the fabrication and stabilization of NPS.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of NPS via dealloying of Ag55Al45 alloy pretreated with alpha-terpineol (alpha-TPN).
• Characterization of the resulting alpha-NPS for structural uniformity and SERS performance.
• Assessment of the long-term stability of alpha-NPS upon exposure to air.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated uniform alpha-NPS with consistent ligament and nanopore sizes.
• Achieved high SERS performance that remained stable for over a month in air.
• Demonstrated that alpha-TPN acts as a surfactant for improved nanostructure formation and as a protective agent against oxidation.

Conclusions:

• Pretreatment with alpha-TPN is critical for creating stable, interconnected NPS structures.
• The carbonized layer from alpha-TPN effectively prevents silver oxidation, ensuring material longevity.
• The developed alpha-NPS is a highly stable and effective material for SERS applications.