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Photochemical decoration of silver nanoparticles on ZnO nanowires as a three‐dimensional substrate for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering measurement
Author(s) -
Satheeshkumar Elumalai,
Yang Jyisy
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of raman spectroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.748
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1097-4555
pISSN - 0377-0486
DOI - 10.1002/jrs.4477
Subject(s) - nanowire , raman scattering , raman spectroscopy , substrate (aquarium) , silver nanoparticle , materials science , silver nitrate , chemical engineering , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , irradiation , optics , oceanography , physics , engineering , geology , nuclear physics
To increase the sensitivity in surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurement, a three‐dimensional (3D) SERS substrate was prepared by the decoration of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the side walls of ZnO nanowires. The prepared 3D SERS substrates provide the advantages of highly loaded density of AgNPs, with a large specific surface area to interact with analytes, and the ease for the analytes to access the surfaces of AgNPs. To prepare the substrates, ZnO nanowires were first grown on a glass plate by wet chemical method. By treating SnCl 2 on the surfaces of ZnO nanowires, Ag seeds could be formed on the side wall of the ZnO nanowires, which were further grown to a suitable size for SERS measurements via photochemical reduction. To optimize and understand the influences of the parameters used in preparation of the substrates, the reaction conditions were systematically adjusted and examined. Results indicated that AgNPs could be successfully decorated on the side wall of the ZnO nanowires only by the assistances of SnCl 2 . The size and density of AgNPs were affected by both the concentration of silver nitrate and the irradiation time. With optimized condition, the prepared 3D substrates provided an enhancement factor approaching 7 orders of magnitude compared with conventional Raman intensity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.