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Tunable SERS Platforms from Small Nanoparticle 3D Superlattices: A Comparison between Gold, Silver, and Copper
Author(s) -
Chapus Lionel,
Aubertin Pierre,
Joiret Suzanne,
Lucas Ivan T.,
Maisonhaute Emmanuel,
Courty Alexa
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201700601
Subject(s) - superlattice , colloidal gold , nanoparticle , gold colloid , copper , materials science , raman spectroscopy , nanotechnology , surface enhanced raman spectroscopy , homogeneous , spectroscopy , colloid , metal , optoelectronics , raman scattering , chemistry , optics , metallurgy , physics , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics
Herein we present new substrates for surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The synthesis of colloidal nanoparticles through an organometallic route allowed us to obtain gold, silver, or copper nanoparticles with well‐controlled shapes and sizes (5–12 nm in diameter). The organization of these nanoparticles into large‐scale 3D superlattices produces a very large number of “hot spots” at the origin of the signal enhancement. Each superlattice was studied individually to correlate its optical and SERS properties to the thickness, the nanoparticle sizes, and the interparticle distance. This experimental and theoretical study provides insights for the optimization and tuning of the SERS activity. Indeed, significant SERS amplification could be observed regardless of the nature of the metal. In addition, the SERS signal was homogeneous at the surface of the superlattices, which opens the route for a new approach in analytical SERS detection.