p-Type Organic Semiconductor-Metal Nanoparticle Hybrid Film for the Enhancement of Raman and Fluorescence Detection

Hybrid platforms of organic semiconductors and plasmonic metal nanostructures have the potential to form effective optical detection substrates. Here, we report the use of an organic p-type conducting polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) combined with plasmon-active silver nanostructures to enhance both Raman and fluorescence signal intensities. This enhancement occurs when optically excited charge from the polymer is transferred to silver, causing an enhancement of the electromagnetic field and leading to an increase in both the Raman and fluorescence signal intensities. This study demonstrates the potential of the organic semiconducting polymer-plasmonic metal nanostructure platform in spectroscopy detection technology.