Porous Tungsten Nitride: A Sensitive SERS Substrate with High Stability.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• The performance of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection is highly dependent on the properties of the Raman scattering substrate.
• Traditional substrates like noble metals and semiconductors have limitations in stability and sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize porous tungsten nitride (WN) nanostructures for SERS applications.
• To evaluate the SERS performance and stability of the synthesized WN substrates.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of porous WN using W18O49 ultrafine nanowire bundles as precursors via nitriding treatment.
• Characterization of WN properties, including localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and resonance peak.
• Testing WN substrates for the detection of typical dyes, specifically R6G, to determine sensitivity and enhancement factor.

Main Results:

• Porous WN exhibits strong LSPR in the visible region with a peak at 672 nm.
• WN substrates show significant Raman enhancement signals for dye detection.
• Achieved a lowest detectable concentration of 1 × 10^-10 M for R6G with a maximum enhancement factor of 1.62 × 10^7.
• Demonstrated outstanding corrosion and oxidation resistance, maintaining detection performance in harsh environments.

Conclusions:

• Porous WN is a promising material for SERS detection due to its strong LSPR and excellent stability.
• WN substrates offer superior performance and robustness compared to traditional noble metal and semiconductor Raman substrates.