Trace molecules detectable by surface-enhanced Raman scattering based on newly developed Ag and Au nanoparticles-containing substrates

In this work, Ag and Au nanoparticles-containing substrates were first developed for obtaining a stronger surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) intensity of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and reducing the limit of detection (LOD) of trace molecules. First, the optimum electrochemically roughening conditions employed on Ag substrates for obtaining strongest SERS of R6G were investigated. Then the optimally roughened Ag substrates were incubated in the prepared Cl- and Au-containing solutions for different couples of minutes to undergo the galvanic replacement reactions. Encouragingly, the SERS of R6G adsorbed on this roughened Ag substrate modified by the replacement of Ag with Au for 5 min exhibits a higher intensity by 8-fold of magnitude, as compared with the SERS of R6G adsorbed on an unmodified roughened Ag substrate. Moreover, the practical LOD of R6G can be reduced by one order of magnitude from 1 ppq to 0.1 ppq. Further investigations indicate that the compositions of complexes formed on the substrates demonstrate decided effects on the improved SERS.     

Effects of electrolytes used in roughening gold substrates by oxidation–reduction cycles on surface-enhanced Raman scattering

In this work, the effects of electrolytes used in roughening gold substrates by electrochemical methods on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) were first investigated. First, gold substrates were roughened by triangular-wave oxidation–reduction cycles (ORC) in aqueous solutions containing different kinds of 0.1 M electrolytes. Then Rhodamine 6G (R6G) was used as Raman probe to examine this effect of electrolytes used on the SERS observed. The result indicates that the highest intensity of SERS of R6G was obtained on the roughened Au substrate prepared in 0.1 M NaCl, which was less used in the literature. Meanwhile, it was also found that the rougher surface morphology observed, which is contributive to the higher SERS obtained, is corresponding to the smaller cathodic peak area shown in the cyclic voltammograms for roughening the Au substrate.     

Improved surface-enhanced Raman scattering on optimum electrochemically roughened silver substrates

In this work, the effects of preparation conditions used in roughening silver substrates by electrochemical triangular-wave oxidation-reduction cycles (ORC) on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) were first investigated. The optimum roughening conditions for obtaining strongest SERS of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) are as follows. Ag electrodes were cycled in deoxygenated aqueous solutions containing 0.1 M NaCl from −0.3 to +0.2 V versus Ag/AgCl at 25 mV s⁻¹ for five scans. The SERS of R6G adsorbed on this optimum procedure-prepared roughened Ag substrate exhibits a higher intensity by one order of magnitude, as compared with that of R6G adsorbed on a normally roughened Ag substrate.     

Improved surface-enhanced Raman scattering on electrochemically roughened silver substrates prepared in bielectrolyte solutions

In this work, the effect of supplemental LiClO₄ electrolytes in KCl solutions used in roughening silver substrates by electrochemical triangular-wave oxidation-reduction cycles (ORC) on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was first investigated. To prepare SERS-active substrates by ORC procedures, electrolytes of KCl were generally employed. In contrast, LiClO₄ ones were unsuitable for producing SERS-active substrates. Encouragingly, SERS of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) adsorbed on the roughened Ag substrate prepared in an aqueous solution containing KCl and LiClO₄ electrolytes exhibits a higher intensity by one order of magnitude, as compared with that of R6G adsorbed on a roughened Ag substrate prepared in a solution only containing KCl. Further investigations indicate that the oxidation state of Cl on the roughened Ag substrate demonstrates decided effects on this improved SERS.     

Effect of argon plasma treatment on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of polypyrrole deposited on electrochemically roughened gold substrates

In this work, polypyrrole (PPy) films were electrodeposited on electrochemically roughened gold substrates modified by argon plasma treatment. First, a gold substrate was roughened by a triangular-wave oxidation-reduction cycle (ORC) in an aqueous solution containing 0.1 N HCl. Then the roughened gold substrate was further treated by argon plasma. Encouragingly, the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy of polypyrrole electrodeposited on this roughened gold substrate modified by argon plasma treatment exhibits a higher intensity by 8-fold, as compared with the SERS of PPy electrodeposited on an unmodified roughened gold substrate. Meanwhile, the electropolymerization for pyrrole monomers occurring on the modified roughened gold substrate is easier. Also, the nucleation and growth of electropolymerization of pyrrole monomers on the modified and unmodified gold substrates are different.     

Sub-wavelength Raman spectroscopy on isolated silver islands

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is a valuable analytical tool for the investigation of molecules adsorbed on roughened noble metal surfaces. The shape, size, and surrounding of the metal protrusions play an important role in the Raman scattering enhancement. By combining scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) with Raman spectroscopy the spatial resolution suffices for investigating isolated silver islands on SERS active substrates. We demonstrate an optical resolution below 70 nm for recording spectra on specifically prepared and fully characterized SERS substrates. For a quantitative evaluation of the SERS signal the spatial distribution of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) deposited on the SERS substrate was determined by friction force measurements. By comparing the Raman intensities of the SERS substrates with those of unmetallized support plates absolute SERS enhancement factors at specific locations on top and in the vicinity of the silver islands were determined directly.     

Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectra of faceted diamonds

In this work, the contributions of cationic and elemental gold on roughened gold substrates to surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of polypyrrole (PPy) films were first investigated. First, a gold substrate was roughened by a triangular wave oxidation-reduction cycle (ORC) in an aqueous solution containing 0.1 M KCl. Then, the roughened gold substrate was further reduced by applying a cathodic potential for a fixed time to control the quantity of unreduced cationic Au on the roughened Au substrate. The result indicates that the content of cationic Au is responsible for the improved SERS of PPy electrodeposited on this roughened Au substrate. This phenomenon can be attributed to the interfacial charge transfer from PPy to the roughened Au substrate by the aid of cationic Au.     

Characteristics of Cl‐ and Au‐Containing Nanocomplex and Its Effect on the Following Electrodeposition of Polypyrrole

In this study, polypyrrole (PPy) films were electrochemically deposited on gold substrates roughened by a triangular‐wave oxidation‐reduction cycle (ORC) with different anodic and cathodic vertexes in an aqueous solution containing 0.1 N NaCl. In ORC treatment, the Cl‐ and Au‐containing nanocomplex was formed on the surface of gold. The results indicate that the crystalline orientation and diameter of Au are significantly different before and after ORC treatment. Also the redox behavior in ORC, surface morphology formed and depth profile of Cl in the nanocomplex are influenced by the anodic and cathodic vertexes used in roughening Au. The roughened Au demonstrates an electrocatalytic activity for pyrrole polymerization. Correspondingly, the characteristics of PPy films electrodeposited on these roughened Au substrates are notable. They include the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect shown, a higher conductivity obtained and an increase in oxidation level demonstrated.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering studies of 1,10-phenanthroline adsorption and its surface complexes on a gold electrode

This paper reports on the interface processes of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) at a roughened Au electrode by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for the first time. Both the adsorption and coordination of phen on the roughened gold electrode have been studied. In comparison to the normal Raman spectrum of phen monohydrate, the frequency and relative intensity change significantly in the SERS spectra. As evidenced by cyclic voltammetry, the electrochemical behavior of the Au electrode is strongly modified by the adsorbed phen. It was found that a new pair of redox peaks appeared in the cyclic voltammogram only when both phen and X (X = Cl-, Br-) were present. Information on coordination bonds of Au-N and Au-X as well as on adsorbed bonds of Au-N(ad) and Au-X(ad), was obtained by the SERS spectra. In situ SERS investigations together with electrochemical measurements convincingly prove the formation of surface complexes 1,10-phenAu2X6 or [1,10-phenAuX2]AuX4 during the electro-oxidation process of Au while phen and X coadsorbed on the surface.     

Sonoelectrochemical synthesis of spike-like gold-silver alloy nanoparticles from bulk substrates and the application on surface-enhanced Raman scattering

The synthesis of non-spherical spike-like gold-silver alloy nanoparticles on platinum substrates was first developed by sonoelectrochemical methods in this study. First, a silver substrate was roughened by a triangular-wave oxidation-reduction cycle (ORC) in an aqueous solution containing 0.1 M HCl. Silver-containing complexes were found in the solution after the ORC treatment. Then a gold substrate was subsequently roughened by the similar ORC treatment in the same silver complexes-containing solution. After this procedure, Au- and Ag-containing complexes were left in the solution. Subsequently, the Au working electrode was immediately replaced by a Pt electrode. A cathodic overpotential was applied under controlled sonication and slight stirring to synthesize Au-Ag alloy nanoparticles on the Pt substrate. Encouragingly, the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of Rhodamine 6G on the Au-Ag alloy nanoparticles-deposited Pt substrate exhibits a higher intensity by eight-fold of magnitude and a better resolution, as compared to that obtained on the Au nanoparticles-deposited Pt substrate.     

Silver overlayer-modified surface-enhanced Raman scattering-active gold substrates for potential applications in trace detection of biochemical species

Because Ag and Au nanoparticles (NPs) possess well-defined localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) they are popularly employed in the studies of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). As shown in the literature and in our previous studies, the advantage of SERS-active Ag NPs is their higher SERS enhancement over Au NPs. On the other hand, the disadvantage of SERS-active Ag NPs compared to Au NPs is their serious decay of SERS enhancement in ambient laboratory air. In this work, we develop a new strategy for preparing highly SERS-active Ag NPs deposited on a roughened Au substrate. This strategy is derived from the modification of electrochemical underpotential deposition (UPD) of metals. The coverage of Ag NPs on the roughened Au substrate can be as high as 0.95. Experimental results indicate that the SERS of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) observed on this developed substrate exhibits a higher intensity by ca. 50-fold of magnitude, as compared with that of R6G observed on the substrate without the deposition of Ag NPs. The limit of detection (LOD) for R6G measured on this substrate is markedly reduced to 2 × 10⁻¹⁵ M. Moreover, aging of SERS effect observed on this developed substrate is significantly depressed, as compared with that observed on a generally prepared SERS-active Ag substrate. These aging tests were performed in an atmosphere of 50% relative humidity (RH) and 20% (v/v) O₂ at 30 °C for 60 day. Also, the developed SERS-active substrate enables it practically applicable in the trace detection of monosodium urate (MSU)-containing solution in gouty arthritis without a further purification process.     

银/金纳米线阵列表面增强拉曼基底的制备及对孔雀石绿的高灵敏度检测

利用种子介导的软模板生长方法制备了金纳米线(Au NWs)阵列, 通过调节生长温度控制Au NWs阵列的形貌, 最后在经硼氢化钠(NaBH₄)清洗过的Au NWs阵列上化学沉积银纳米颗粒(Ag NPs), 制得银/金纳米线(Ag/Au NWs)阵列作为表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底. 选用罗丹明6G(R6G)作为拉曼探针分子测定了Ag/Au NWs阵列的SERS性能. 结果表明, Ag/Au NWs阵列作为SERS基底具有高灵敏度、 优异的信号均匀性和良好的稳定性. 使用Ag/Au NWs阵列对孔雀石绿(MG)检测的检出限可低至1×10^-8 mol/L, 线性范围为 1×10^-8~1×10^-4 mol/L. NaBH₄可以在不影响SERS性能的情况下去除Ag/Au NWs阵列上吸附的分子, 使得 SERS基底可以重复使用. 使用Ag/Au NWs阵列对湖水中的MG进行检测, 得到了可靠的回收率, 证明Ag/Au NWs 阵列在检测环境水体中的孔雀石绿上具有应用潜力.     

金与银电极表面甘氨酸分子吸附作用的SERS光谱研究

本文利用表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)技术研究了甘氨酸在金与银基底表面的吸附作用特征。研究表明甘氨酸分子以COO-的不对称形式吸附于金电极表面,且NH2也是其可能的吸附位点;而在银电极表面,则主要是通过COO-的对称形式而吸附。在此基础上,进一步研究了电极电位与溶液酸碱性对吸附于粗糙化银电极表面甘氨酸分子吸附作用的影响。研究结果表明,甘氨酸分子中去质子化羧基的吸附作用受电位影响较小,而电位对-NH3+吸附作用的影响程度较大。另一方面,溶液pH值对银电极表面的甘氨酸分子吸附行为的影响也较为显著。随着溶液酸性减小羧基倾向于相对于电极表面平行吸附。这是由于随着溶液碱性增大氨基质子化程度的减小,有利于氨基在银电极表面吸附。这将改变分子的吸附构型使其更接近于电极表面。这些变化主要出现在pH值大于10的条件下。     

Surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopy of B vitamins: what is the effect of SERS-active metals used?

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy and surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy are analytical tools suitable for the detection of small amounts of various analytes adsorbed on metal surfaces. During recent years, these two spectroscopic methods have become increasingly important in the investigation of adsorption of biomolecules and pharmaceuticals on nanostructured metal surfaces. In this work, the adsorption of B-group vitamins pyridoxine, nicotinic acid, folic acid and riboflavin at electrochemically prepared gold and silver substrates was investigated using Fourier transform SERS spectroscopy at an excitation wavelength of 1,064 nm. Gold and silver substrates were prepared by cathodic reduction on massive platinum targets. In the case of gold substrates, oxidation–reduction cycles were applied to increase the enhancement factor of the gold surface. The SERS spectra of riboflavin, nicotinic acid, folic acid and pyridoxine adsorbed on silver substrates differ significantly from SERS spectra of these B-group vitamins adsorbed on gold substrates. The analysis of near-infrared-excited SERS spectra reveals that each of B-group vitamin investigated interacts with the gold surface via a different mechanism of adsorption to that with the silver surface. In the case of riboflavin adsorbed on silver substrate, the interpretation of surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectra was also helpful in investigation of the adsorption mechanism.     

二步电沉积法制备Au/氧化石墨烯复合薄膜作为SERS基底

采用二步电沉积方法在Ti片表面制备了Au-氧化石墨烯（Au-GO）复合薄膜,通过XRD、SEM、XPS等对薄膜的组成、结构和形貌进行了表征,并以罗丹明6G（R6G）为探针分子,对Au-GO/Ti基底的SERS活性进行了表征。结果显示,Au纳米颗粒尺寸约为60 nm,均匀、致密分布于GO表面,该基底显示出较高的SERS活性,对R6G分子的检测极限可达~10^-10 mol·L^-1,增强因子高达约10⁶,且基底显示出良好的稳定性,在冰箱中存放90 d后,SERS活性仅降低30%左右。     

二步电沉积法制备Au/氧化石墨烯复合薄膜作为SERS基底

采用二步电沉积方法在Ti片表面制备了Au-氧化石墨烯（Au-GO）复合薄膜,通过XRD、SEM、XPS等对薄膜的组成、结构和形貌进行了表征,并以罗丹明6G（R6G）为探针分子,对Au-GO/Ti基底的SERS活性进行了表征。结果显示,Au纳米颗粒尺寸约为60 nm,均匀、致密分布于GO表面,该基底显示出较高的SERS活性,对R6G分子的检测极限可达~10^-10 mol·L^-1,增强因子高达约10⁶,且基底显示出良好的稳定性,在冰箱中存放90 d后,SERS活性仅降低30%左右。     

Self-assembled metal colloid films: two approaches for preparing new SERS active substrates

In this paper, we propose two new approaches for preparing active substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). In the first approach (method 1), one transfers AgI nanoparticles capped by negatively charged mercaptoacetic acid from a AgI colloid solution onto a quartz slide and then deoxidizes AgI to Ag nanoparticles on the substrate. The second approach (method 2) deoxidizes AgI to Ag nanoparticles in a colloid solution and then transfers the Ag nanoparticles capped by negatively charged mercaptoacetic acid onto a quartz slide. By transfer of the AgI/Ag nanoparticles from the colloid solutions to the solid substrates, the problem of instability of the colloid solutions can largely be overcome. The films thus prepared by both approaches retain the merits of metal colloid solutions while they discharge their shortcomings. Accordingly, the obtained Ag particle films are very suitable as SERS active substrates. SERS active substrates with different coverages can be formed in a layer-by-layer electrostatic assembly by exposing positively charged surfaces to the colloid solutions containing oppositely charged AgI/Ag nanoparticles. The SERS active substrates fabricated by the two novel methods have been characterized by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The results of AFM and UV-vis spectroscopy show that the Ag nanoparticles grow with the increase in the number of coverage and that most of them remain isolated even at high coverages. Consequently, the surface optical properties are dominated by the absorption due to the isolated Ag nanoparticles. The relationship between SERS intensity and surface morphology of the new active substrates has been investigated for Rhodamine 6G (R6G) adsorbed on them. It has been found that the SERS enhancement depends on the size and aggregation of the Ag particles on the substrates. Especially, we can obtain a stronger SERS signal from the substrate prepared by method 1, implying that for the metal nanoparticles capped with stabilizer molecules such as mercaptoacetic acid, the in situ deoxidization in the film is of great use in preparing SERS active substrates. Furthermore, we have found that the addition of Cl- into the AgI colloid solution changes the surface morphology of the SERS active substrates and favors stronger SERS enhancement.     

吡啶在几种金属纳米线阵列上的表面增强喇曼光谱

近20多年来利用表面增强喇曼光谱（SERS）的研究还仅限于Ag,Au,Cu这三种具有强SERS效应的金属,最近,田中群等利用合适的表面处理方法和共焦曼光谱技术成功地获得了许多无机离子和有机小分子吸附在一系列的过渡金属（如Pt,Ni,Fe,Pd,Rh,Co,Ru等）上的SERS光谱,拓宽了SERS的应用范围,但这些表面处理方法对基底进行处理时存在着较大的随机性,从而导致对所得SERS信号的解释困难。近年来通过自组装膜、模板合成等技术可得比较有序具有强SERS效应的或表面,例如Nie等最近发现尺寸分布狭窄的Ag溶胶粒子（约80－100nm）能诱导出巨大的SERS增强;Freeman和C tffumj m jf rbutb uqf At A 体微粒组装在聚合物基底上,制得高活性的SERS基底,以上工作都表明制备有序纳米级金属颗粒表面将推动SERS的应用和机理研究,迄今,3半导体纳米线阵列上的喇曼光谱已有报道,而利用金属纳米线阵列作为SERS基底除半于样模合成法制备的Ag纳米线阵列上的SERS之外,尚未见其它相关报道,本文主要研究样模合成法制备金属纳米线的过程,并以此为基底研究吡啶吸附的SERS光谱。     

银纳米微球和银纳米棒自组装膜的制备及SERS研究

采用硼氢化钠还原硝酸银,用振荡器在不同转速下振荡得到单分散的银纳米微球和银纳米棒,再将银纳米微球及银纳米棒自组装于被3-氨丙基-三甲氧基硅烷(APTMS)修饰的玻璃基片上,制得了具有表面增强拉曼(SERS)活性的基底,分别以罗丹明6G(R6G)和罗丹明B(RB)为探针分子对这两种基底进行SERS活性检测,结果发现这两种基底均为较理想的SERS衬底。     

Ag纳米粒子在TiO2四棱柱阵列上的可控生长及其SERS效应

采用水热法在导电玻璃FTO导电面上沉积TiO₂四棱柱阵列; 并以其为基体, 分别采用聚乙烯基吡咯 烷酮(PVP)还原Tollens试剂以及柠檬酸三钠(TSC)还原硝酸银溶液, 将Ag纳米粒子(AgNPs)沉积在TiO₂四棱柱阵列上形成TiO₂@AgNPs-PVP和TiO₂@AgNPs-TSC微纳结构作为表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底. 实验结果表明, Ag纳米粒子在TiO₂四棱柱阵列上的尺寸和分布可通过改变Tollens试剂的浓度和TSC还原硝酸银溶液的反应时间来调控, 进而优化基底的SERS灵敏度. TiO₂@AgNPs-PVP微纳结构对罗丹明6G(R6G)的检出限为10^-12 mol/L, 对低活性小分子三聚氰胺的检出限为0.01 mg/mL; TiO₂@AgNPs-TSC微纳结构对R6G的检出限为10^-10 mol/L, 对三聚氰胺的检出限为0.01 mg/mL. TiO₂@AgNPs-PVP和TiO₂@AgNPs-TSC微纳结构基底的SERS活性、 循环可回收性与还原剂种类紧密相关: 包覆在Ag纳米粒子上的PVP可以作为隔离层避免Ag纳米粒子直接接触, 防止电磁场耦合作用减弱, 增强基底的SERS活性; 同时, PVP是一种水性聚合物, 有较强的亲水性, 作为循环可回收SERS基底使用时, 吸附小分子物质清洗难度较大.