Surface-enhanced Raman scattering-active gold nanoparticles modified with a monolayer of silver film

16 Oct 2012

Liu et al., Analyst, 2012, 137, 4943

By Jennifer A. Dougan, Imperial College London, Web Writer

In a HOT new Analyst article, Yu-Chuan Liu and collaborators from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, have reported the preparation of highly sensitive substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The surface enhancement of Raman scattering relies on the use of suitably roughened metal surfaces. Liu et al. used electrochemical underpotential deposition (UPD) of silver onto gold nanoparticles on a platinum substrate via sonoelectrochemical deposition-dissolution cycles to prepare the SERS active substrates. The use of Rhodamine 6 G as a model analyte revealed that the UPD silver on gold substrates show marked SERS enhancement when compared with bulk silver coating or gold nanoparticles alone [a limit of detection of 2 × 10^-14 M is reported]. SERS is now used as a detection technique across a range of disciplines and the simple preparation of ultra-sensitive substrates will, potentially, have wide-ranging impact. This paper will be free to read until Oct 29th.