Peptide mesocrystals as templates to create an Au surface with stronger surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic properties

The design and fabrication of various nanostructures with predefined geometry and composition is a big challenge of nanotechnology. Here we demonstrate an Au nanoflake film replicated from a self-assembled, well-ordered, dipeptide flower-like hierarchical architecture. Such morphology can give rise to useful and remarkable surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) properties. We obtained these nanostructures by using a scaffold of flake-built spherical dipeptide aggregations. Gold nanoparticles were sputtered on the surface of as-assembled dipeptide by an etching system. After removing the dipeptide templates by ethanol, a metal crust was left with a morphology similar to that of the dipeptide hierarchical structure. The different steps within the process were monitored by using electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrum (EDS) analysis and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cyclic voltammetry and Raman spectra were employed to prove the SERS effect of the obtained Au substrates. The enhancement factor is estimated to be about 10(4) for 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) molecules on the Au nanoflake surfaces.     

Effect of ring substitution position on the structural conformation of mercaptobenzoic acid self-assembled monolayers on Au(111)

Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, photoemission spectroscopy (PES), and contact angle measurements have been used to examine the structure and bonding of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) prepared on Au(111) from the positional isomers of mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA). The isomer of MBA and solvent chosen in SAM preparation has considerable bearing upon film morphology. Carbon K-edge NEXAFS measurements indicate that the monomers of 2-, 3-, and 4-MBA have well-defined orientations within their respective SAMs. Monomers of 3- and 4-MBA assume an upright orientation on the Au substrates in monolayers prepared using an acetic acid in ethanol solvent. The aryl ring and carboxyl group of these molecules are tilted from the surface normal by a colatitudal angle of approximately 30 degrees . Preparation of 4-MBA SAMs using pure ethanol solvent, a more traditional means of synthesis, had no appreciable effect upon the monomer orientation. Nonetheless, S(2p) PES measurements illustrate that it results in extensive bilayer formation via carboxyl group hydrogen-bonding between 4-MBA monomers. In 2-MBA monolayers prepared using acetic acid/ethanol solvent, the monomers adopt a more prostrate orientation on the Au substrates, in which the aryl ring and carboxyl group of the molecules are tilted approximately 50 degrees from the surface normal. This configuration is consistent with an interaction between both the mercaptan sulfur and carboxyl group of 2-MBA with the underlying substrate. S(2p) and C(1s) PES experiments provide supporting evidence for a bidentate interaction between 2-MBA and Au(111).     

The synthesis of translucent polymer nanolatexes via microemulsion polymerization

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active substrates of polyvinyl alcohol/gold-silver (PVA/Au-Ag) nanofibers were prepared using a simple approach involving electrospinning. The tunable surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of gold-silver alloy (Au-Ag alloy) nanoparticles (NPs) was achieved by controlling the feed ratio between gold and silver precursors. A higher concentration of Au-Ag alloy NPs could be obtained than the conventional methods, using 1wt% of PVA as the stabilizer. The Au-Ag alloy structure was demonstrated by HRTEM and STEM-EDX. After the electrospinning, the Au-Ag alloy NPs were successfully embedded in PVA nanofibers, as shown in the SEM and TEM images. Raman spectra displayed an apparent enhancement in the signal of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA), pyridine, and thiophenol molecules pre-absorbed from their ethanol solution onto the PVA/Au-Ag nanofibers. Different SERS effects were achieved by varying the Au content or excitation wavelength.     

A new semiconductor-based SERS substrate with enhanced charge collection and improved carrier separation: CuO/TiO2 p-n heterojunction

In this paper, CuO/TiO₂ p-n heterojunction was developed as a new surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate to magnify Raman signal of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) molecule. In the heterojunction-molecule system, CuO as an “electron capsule” can not only offer more electrons to inject into the surface state energy level of TiO₂ and consequently bring additional charge transfer, but also improve photogenerated carrier separation efficiency itself due to strong interfacial coupling in the interface of heterojunction, which together boost SERS performance of the heterojunction substrate. As expected, owing to the enhanced charge collection capacity and the improvement of photogenerated carrier separation efficiency derived from internal electric field and strong interface coupling provided in the interface of heterojunction, this substrate exhibits excellent SERS detection sensitivity towards 4-MBA, with a detection limit as low as 1 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol/L and an enhancement factor of 8.87 × 10⁶.     

应用镍超微电极的电化学表面增强拉曼光谱技术研究

镍(Ni)电极在电化学中应用广泛.原位表征Ni电极表面的吸附物种有益于帮助理解电极反应历程、指导发展高效电催化剂.应用超微电极作为工作电极的电化学表面增强拉曼光谱技术结合了超微电极表面的传质特性和分子水平的高灵敏度表征,是研究Ni电化学的有力手段.本文所述的研究工作通过在金(Au)超微电极表面电吸附具有SERS活性的A...     

小尺寸金石墨纳米颗粒的合成与表征

在表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)的研究领域中,基于局域表面等离子体共振效应的等离子体SERS基底的制备成为过去几十年的研究热点。然而,通常开发的等离子体金属基底具有较差的稳定性和重现性。对于SERS而言,石墨烯类材料具有拉曼化学增强效应,除此之外,还具有分子富集、强的稳定性与荧光猝灭能力等优点,因此基于石墨金属复合纳米材料的SERS基底受到了研究人员的重视。我们利用化学气相沉积(CVD)法制备了小尺寸的金石墨核壳纳米颗粒(Au@G),其粒径约为17 nm。我们通过在Au NP上包覆介孔二氧化硅来控制Au@G的尺寸,同时还研究了包覆二氧化硅过程中,正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)的浓度对于石墨壳层形成的影响。结果表明当TEOS在一定浓度范围内,其浓度的降低有利于得到石墨化程度高的Au@G。进一步利用Au@G对结晶紫分子进行拉曼检测,也表明了Au@G具有较好的拉曼增强效果。这种小尺寸的Au@G在分子检测与细胞成像分析领域中具有广泛的应用潜力。     

Au@TiO2核壳纳米粒子光催化过程的表面增强拉曼光谱研究

利用聚电解质的静电吸附作用（层层组装）,在Au纳米粒子表面包裹上不同层数的二氧化钛前驱体TALH,通过退火形成Au@TiO2复合纳米粒子.以苯硫酚（TP）作为探针分子对退火前复合纳米粒子不同壳层厚度的SERS效应进行表征;可以发现：SERS信号强度的变化跟壳层厚度密切相关,当Au表面包裹至三层TALH时,信号几乎完全消失.此外,结合紫外照射,利用SERS对亚甲基蓝在TiO2壳层表面的光催化降解过程进行现场研究.结果表明：MB的降解主要经历了从多体及二聚体吸附逐渐向单体吸附方式转变,随后又经历了一个脱甲基的过程.因此,本工作发展了将一种紫外催化与现场SERS检测相结合的技术,该技术有望发展成为检测光催化过程,研究表面催化机理的一种强有力的工具     

Self‐Assembled Au Nanoparticles as Substrates for Surface‐Enhanced Vibrational Spectroscopy: Optimization and Electrochemical Stability

Three‐dimensional nanostructured metallic substrates for enhanced vibrational spectroscopy are fabricated by self‐assembly. Nanostructures consisting of one to 20 depositions of 13 nm‐diameter Au nanoparticles (NPs) on Au films are prepared and characterized by means of AFM and UV/Vis reflection–absorption spectroscopy. Surface‐enhanced polarization modulation infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy (PM‐IRRAS) is observed from Au NPs modified by the probe molecule 4‐hydroxythiophenol. The limitation of this kind of substrate for surface‐enhanced PM‐IRRAS is discussed. The surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from the same probe molecule is also observed and the effect of the number of Au‐NP depositions on the SERS efficiency is studied. The SERS signal from the probe molecule maximizes after 11 Au‐NP depositions, and the absolute SERS intensities from different batches are reproducible within 20 %. In situ electrochemical SERS measurements show that these substrates are stable within the potential window between ?800 and +200 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl/sat. Cl^?).     

Fabrication, characterization, and application in SERS of self-assembled polyelectrolyte-gold nanorod multilayered films

An effective and facile approach for the preparation of multilayered nanostructure of gold nanorods (Au NRs) has been demonstrated. Linear polyethylenimine (LPEI) was selected as a polymeric adhesive layer, and an anionic polyelectrolyte poly(sodium styrenesulfonate) (PSS) was used as the linker of the positively charged Au NRs in multilayered nanostructure. They were deposited onto the LPEI-modified indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) substrate alternately using the layer-by-layer assembly technique via electrostatic interactions. The plasmonic property of the multilayered nanostructure of Au NRs is tunable by the controlled self-assembly process. FE-SEM was used to study the morphologies of the resulted substrates with Au NRs monolayer membrane and with Au NRs multilayered membrane. More importantly, it was found that the multilayered NRs films could be used as a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate for probing 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP).     

PDMS-Au复合基底上多环芳烃分子的表面增强拉曼光谱

利用聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS)对有机物的富集功能,通过在金纳米粒子单层膜(Au MLF)表面旋涂薄层PDMS膜制备PDMS-Au MLF复合表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)基底.研究了SERS增强性能与旋涂液浓度及稀释溶剂间的关系,考察了复合基底增强活性的均匀性.研究发现,采用叔丁醇为稀释溶剂,浓度为2%(质量分数)的旋涂液时所得复合基底表面多环芳烃(PAHs)的SERS信号强度最高,且此基底SERS信号强度偏差小于10%.分别以PDMS-Au MLF复合材料和Au MLF作为基底,对比研究了对萘、蒽、菲和芘4种多环芳烃的SERS检测能力.结果表明,PDMS-Au MLF复合基底对以上4种有机物的检出限分别为10~(-6),10~(-7),10~(-8)及10~(-7)mol/L,相比于单一Au MLF基底,其检测限至少降低了1个数量级,这主要源自于PDMS对PAHs的富集作用,且此类复合基底可用于多种多环芳烃混合物的特征识别.     

室温电子还原制备金纳米颗粒与琼脂糖复合膜的表征与应用

利用室温电子还原技术合成了一种金纳米颗粒与琼脂糖复合膜。合成过程采用氩气辉光放电为廉价电子源,方便快捷,绿色环保。通过紫外-可见(UV-Vis)分光光度计、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)仪、光电子能谱(XPS)等表征,发现可以通过改变氯金酸浓度调控复合膜中金纳米颗粒的分布,加入聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)可有效控制金纳米颗粒的形貌。由于复合膜具有金纳米颗粒密集排布的结构,可作为表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)活性基底。实验表明,以对氨基苯硫酚为探针,该复合膜作为SERS基底,SERS平均增强因子超过了106,检测限达到了10-12mol?L-1。除此之外,作为SERS基底,复合膜具有良好的均一性和稳定性。     

Enhanced optical properties of graphene oxide-Au nanocrystal composites

A simple strategy based on electrostatic interactions was utilized to assemble Au nanocrystals of various morphologies onto graphene oxide (GO). This method allows deposition of metal nanocrystals of different shapes onto GO. The linear and nonlinear optical properties of GO-Au nanocrystal composites have been examined. The extinction spectra of Au nanocrystals became broadened and red-shifted from the visible to the near IR upon formation of GO-Au nanocrystal composites. A more than 4-fold increase in two-photon excitation emission intensity was observed from the GO-Au nanocrystal composites compared to pure Au nanocrystals. The SERS signals of the composites were found to be strongly dependent on the morphology of Au nanocrystals, with SERS enhancement factors ranging from 9 to 20.     

Raman detection of localized transferrin-coated gold nanoparticles inside a single cell

We investigated the cellular uptake behavior of non-fluorescent metal nanoparticles (NPs) by use of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) combined with dark-field microscopy (DFM). The uptake of Au NPs inside a single cell could also be identified by DFM first and then confirmed by z-depth-dependent SERS at micrometer resolution. Guided by DFM for the location of Au NPs, an intracellular distribution assay was possible using Raman dyes with unique vibrational marker bands in order to identify the three-dimensional location inside the single cell by obtaining specific spectral features. Au NPs modified by 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) bearing its –COOH surface functional group were used to conjugate transferrin (Tf) protein using the 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) reaction. The protein conjugation reaction on Au surfaces was examined by means of color change, absorption spectroscopy, and SERS. Our results demonstrate that DFM techniques combined with SERS may have great potential for monitoring biological processes with protein conjugation at the single-cell level.     

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.     

Characterization of Labeled Gold Nanoparticles for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

Noble metal nanoparticles (NP) such as gold (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can produce ultrasensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals owing to their plasmonic properties. AuNPs have been widely investigated for their biocompatibility and potential to be used in clinical diagnostics and therapeutics or combined for theranostics. In this work, labeled AuNPs in suspension were characterized in terms of size dependency of their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and SERS activity. The study was conducted using a set of four Raman labels or reporters, i.e., small molecules with large scattering cross-section and a thiol moiety for chemisorption on the AuNP, namely 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA), 2-naphthalenethiol (2-NT), 4-acetamidothiophenol (4-AATP), and biphenyl-4-thiol (BPT), to investigate their viability for SERS tagging of spherical AuNPs of different size in the range 5 nm to 100 nm. The results showed that, when using 785 nm laser excitation, the SERS signal increases with the increasing size of AuNP up to 60 or 80 nm. The signal is highest for BPT labelled 80 nm AuNPs followed by 4-AATP labeled 60 nm AuNPs, making BPT and 4-AATP the preferred candidates for Raman labelling of spherical gold within the range of 5 nm to 100 nm in diameter.     

有序Au/Ag纳米碗阵列的简易制备及其表面增强拉曼散射性能

通过湿法化学合成基于SiO₂胶体晶体的大面积有序Au/Ag纳米碗(Au/AgNB)阵列。首先,在玻璃基板上以3D SiO₂胶体晶体作为模板。然后,在Au纳米颗粒(AuNP)种子的帮助下,通过原位生长方法在模板上沉积一层Au纳米壳(AuNS)。再通过HCHO还原Ag⁺使AuNS表面进一步沉积Ag纳米壳,形成Ag/Au双纳米壳(Ag/AuNS)阵列。通过丙烯酸酯改性双向取向聚丙烯(BOPP)方便地获得了单层有序反转Ag/AuNB阵列。这种有序Au/AgNB阵列具有更佳的表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)活性,其SERS分析增强因子(AEF)可达2.23×10⁷。     

有序Au/Ag纳米碗阵列的简易制备及其表面增强拉曼散射性能

通过湿法化学合成基于SiO₂胶体晶体的大面积有序Au/Ag纳米碗(Au/AgNB)阵列。首先,在玻璃基板上组装3D SiO₂胶体晶体作为模板。然后,以Au纳米颗粒(AuNP)为种子,通过原位生长法在SiO₂模板上沉积一层Au纳米壳(AuNS)。再通过HCHO还原Ag⁺成Ag⁰,进一步在AuNS表面沉积Ag纳米壳,形成Ag/Au双纳米壳(Ag/AuNS)阵列。最后通过丙烯酸酯改性双向取向聚丙烯(BOPP)膜方便地获得了单层有序反转Ag/AuNB阵列。这种有序Au/AgNB阵列具有更佳的表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)活性,其SERS分析增强因子(AEF)可达2.23×10⁷。     

平面金基质上硅壳的构筑

成功地在平板金基质上构筑了硅壳. 在构筑硅壳前, 首先通过形成Au-S键将具有双官能团的4-巯基苯甲酸自组装到金膜上, 再通过静电吸附, 将3-氨丙基-三乙氧基硅烷偶连到4-巯基苯甲酸的末端羧基上, 然后通过碱催化水解3-氨丙基-三乙氧基硅烷和四乙氧基硅烷, 形成交联的Si-O-Si键, 构筑成硅壳. 利用原子力和扫描电子显微镜表征了硅壳的形貌, 利用红外和X射线光电能谱研究了它的结构. 此硅壳易于衍生成不同官能团的探针, 可进一步用来构建分子传感和识别单元.     

Raman scattering of 4-aminobenzenethiol sandwiched between Ag/Au nanoparticle and macroscopically smooth Au substrate

Raman scattering measurements were conducted for a 4-aminobenzenethiol (4-ABT) monolayer assembled on a macroscopically smooth Au substrate. Although no peak was detected at the beginning, Raman peaks were distinctly observed by attaching Ag or Au nanoparticles onto the 4-ABT monolayer (Ag(Au)@4-ABT/Au(flat)). Considering the fact that no Raman signal is observed when Ag (Au) nanoparticles are adsorbed on a (4-aminophenyl)silane monolayer assembled on a silicon wafer, the Raman spectrum observed for Ag(Au)@4-ABT/Au(flat) must be a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum, derived from the electromagnetic coupling of the localized surface plasmon of Ag (Au) nanoparticles with the surface plasmon polariton of the underneath Au metal. The electromagnetic coupling responsible for SERS appeared to be governed more by the bulk Au substrate than the sparsely distributed Ag or Au nanoparticles. The chemical enhancement appeared on the other hand to be derived more from the formation of Au-S bonds than any charge-transfer interaction between the protonated amine group and the Au or Ag nanoparticles. The enhancement factors derived from the attachment of a single Ag or Au nanoparticle onto 4-ABT on Au were estimated to be as large as 8.3 x 10(5) and 5.0 x 10(5), respectively, (for the ring 3 band (b(2)) near 1390 cm(-1)) in which a factor of approximately 10(2) was presumed to be due to the chemical effect, with the remaining contributed by the electromagnetic effect.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from different azobenzene self-assembled monolayers and sandwiches

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of functionalized azobenzene thiols (RAzoCnSH, n=3-6 for R=H, abbreviated as AzoCnSH; and n=4 for R=CH(3)CONH, abbreviated as aaAzoC4SH) on different substrates RAzoCnSz.sbnd;z.sfnc;S (S represents substrates of vacuum-deposited gold (Au), silver foil (Ag), HNO(3) etched silver foil (EAg), and silver mirror (mAg)) have been studied by SERS in the near-infrared region. SERS of the SAMs on EAg and/or mAg exhibit SERS effects that vary with etching time and/or deposition time. The most appropriate time is 5 s for etching in 1:1 HNO(3) and 40 s for deposition in 0.1 M Ag(NH(3))(2)NO(3). Further, a layer of Ag mirror was conveniently deposited on the top of the SAMs on different substrates, yielding a more efficient SERS-active system possessing a "sandwiched" structure of mAgz.sfnc;RAzoCnS-z.sfnc;S. An appropriate surface roughness is required for the strongest SERS effect. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicates that there exist a large number of projects around 100 nm on the surface showing the strongest SERS effect. When the surface roughness is decreased or increased, the SERS effect decreases sharply. The relationship between the SERS effect and the structural nature was investigated and showed that the enhancement factor decays exponentially with increasing in distances of the azobenzene group from the underlying substrate or the overlying silver mirror. This result reveals that the SERS effect may be the result of the electromagnetic coupling effect between two metal layers.