A facile synthesis of branched silver nanowire structures and its applications in surface-enhanced Raman scattering

We report a facile method of preparing novel branched silvernanowire structures such as Y-shaped, K-shaped and other multi-branchednanowires. These branched nanostructures are synthesized by reducingsilver nitrate (AgNO₃) in polyethylene glycol(PEG) with polyvinglpyrrolidone (PVP) as capping agent. Statisticaldata indicate that for the “y” typed branched nanowire,the branches grow out from the side of the trunk nanowire in a preferentialorientation with an angle of 55? between the branch and the trunk.Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies indicate that the defectson silver nanowires could support the growth of branched nanowires.Conditions such as the molar ratio of PVP/AgNO₃, the reaction temperature, and the degree of polymerization of reducingagent and PVP play important roles in determining the yield of thesilver branches. Due to the rough surface, these branched nanostructurescan be used as efficient substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scatteringapplications.     

弯曲银/银同质结纳米线的合成及其SERS表征

用液相法合成弯曲的银/银(Ag/Ag)同质结纳米线, 即由Ag/Ag同质结和Ag纳米棒组成。同质结相邻的两个Ag纳米棒以一定的角度形成弯曲的Ag纳米线, 其角度可能是锐角, 也可能是钝角, 而且其长度可达几个微米。研究发现, 反应温度对弯曲Ag/Ag同质结纳米线的形成具有非常重要的作用, 改变反应温度, 得到的是其它形状的纳米粒子; 同时, 表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)表征发现, 与Ag纳米球和纳米线相比, 弯曲Ag/Ag同质结纳米线具有更好的SERS活性。     

SERS as a probe for adsorbate orientation on silver nanoclusters

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy has been used to characterize multilayers of three isomeric aromatic compounds adsorbed on silver nanoclusters. The three structural isomers, all of which adsorb in the carboxylate form onto the silver nanoclusters, bind in two different geometries to the silver surface. Different molecular configurations correlate to differences in bonding strength of these molecules to the silver surface, which can be probed by SERS. For ortho‐hydroxybenzoic acid (salicylic acid), we observed red shifts of major SERS peaks in comparison to the normal Raman vibrations of nonadsorbed crystalline material. For this molecule the steric hindrance between the adjacent carboxylate and hydroxyl groups causes the carboxylate group to rotate from the common flat geometry of benzene substituents on surfaces and bond directly through one of the oxygen atoms to the surface. In this case, strong coordinative bonding between the carboxylate group and the metal surface causes the red shifts in the SERS peaks. For para‐, and meta‐hydroxybenzoic acid, the steric hindrance is less likely since the two functional groups are not at adjacent positions, and therefore these molecules adsorb on the silver surface in a totally flat geometry. For these molecules, in contrast to the ortho isomer, the CO₂ interacts with the surface through an extended π bond, and these molecules are physically adsorbed in the common flat position. Therefore, for the meta and para substituents, we do not observe significant red shifts in the SERS spectrum. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

对巯基苯甲酸在电化学沉积金膜表面的SERS研究

SERS技术由于具有高灵敏度的表面效应,能够检测吸附在金属表面的单分子层或亚单分子层的分子,并能给出丰富的分子结构信息,因而己被广泛应用于界面科学以及定性和定量分析科学领域之中。本文在制备电化学沉积金纳米薄膜的基础上,利用扫描电镜观察金纳米薄膜的形貌,通过分析对巯基苯甲酸在电化学沉积金膜表面的SERS光谱,研究对巯基苯甲酸在金纳米薄膜表面的吸附方式。由SERS光谱分析,我们推断出对巯基苯甲酸可能通过羧基和S原子共同作用吸附在金纳米颗粒表面,且苯环平面可能与金薄膜表面成一定倾斜角。     

基于SERS法的苹果中农药残留的定性及定量分析

使用共焦显微拉曼光谱仪,结合表面增强拉曼散射(Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering,SERS)技术,采集含有农药马拉硫磷和二嗪农的苹果汁样本的基于银纳米溶胶的表面增强拉曼光谱,采用距离匹配和判别分析的方法对其进行定性分析。然后结合偏最小二乘(Partial Least Squares,PLS)方法对两种农药的表面增强拉曼光谱分别进行数学建模分析。结果表明表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)技术对无损快速定性分析马拉硫磷和二嗪农具有较高的准确性,而定量分析二者的含量也具有较高的可行性。     

Adsorption and catalysis of flavonoid quercetin on different plasmonic metal nanoparticles monitored by SERS

Raman and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy were used to follow the chemical modification of quercetin (QUC) on silver nanoparticles. Different metallic systems were fabricated to check the influence of the interface, in terms of electric charge or total available surface, on the catalytic change undergone by QUC. The effect of QUC surface coverage was crucial to reveal information about the different orientation and the interaction mechanism with the metal at different concentrations of this flavonoid. Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering spectra of good quality of QUC were observed at concentrations down to 10^–8 M. Chemical modifications in the presence of nanostructure metal surfaces include oxidation followed by a subsequent polymerization via a condensation of rings whereas different chemical species have been recognized under different experimental conditions. The assignment of the new species formed on the metal surface was conducted. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

金银纳米粒子的电化学性质及联苯胺的SERS研究

采用柠檬酸钠还原氯金酸,硼氢化钠还原硝酸银分别制备了较小粒径的金、银纳米粒子。运用紫外可见吸收光谱(UV-Vis)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、循环伏安法(CV)对金、银纳米粒子进行了表征。结果表明：所得金、银纳米粒子粒径分别约为16和10 nm,并能以亚单层形式组装于导电玻璃(ITO)表面;CV图显示金、银纳米粒子分别有一对不对称的氧化还原峰,而且纳米粒子的浓度对其氧化还原电位存在一定的影响。采用自组装方法,以联苯胺为偶联分子, 在粗糙金基底表面构筑了金/银纳米粒子的双层有序结构。表面增强拉曼光谱研究表明, 在有序金银纳米粒子组装体中偶联分子的拉曼散射得到了增强。     

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering assessment of DNA from leaf tissues adsorbed on silver colloidal nanoparticles

In this work, the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of seven genomic DNAs from leaves of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Ramat.), common sundew (Drosera rotundifolia L.), edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum Cass), Epilobium hirsutum L., Hypericum richeri ssp. transsilvanicum (Čelak) Ciocârlan, rose (Rosa x hybrida L.) and redwood (Sequoia sempervirens D. Don. Endl.), respectively, have been analyzed in the wavenumber range 200–1800 cm⁻¹. The surface‐enhanced Raman vibrational modes for each of these cases, spectroscopic band assignments and structural interpretations of genomic DNAs are reported. A high molecular structural information content can be found in the SERS spectra of these DNAs from leaf tissues. Based on this work, specific plant DNA–ligand interactions or accurate local structure of DNA might be further investigated using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Besides, this study will generate information which is valuable in the development of label‐free DNA detection for chemical probing in living cell. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

金银双金属纳米壳层结构的SERS活性研究

利用磁控溅射技术在组装整齐的微球表面依次镀上银、金薄膜,获得双金属纳米壳层结构。以对巯基苯胺(p-ATP)为探针分子,研究了该壳层结构在不同激发线下SERS增强差异。测试结果表明,金银双金属纳米壳层结构在780nm激光下具有很好的SERS增强效果,并随着外层金膜厚度的减小而逐渐增强。对各个基底的增强因子进行计算可知,基底的表面等离子体共振(SPR)峰与激发线的匹配程度越好,其增强因子越大。由于金的高稳定性和良好的生物相容性,该基底在SERS生物传感方面具有很大应用潜力。     

Raman spectra of benzoic acid enhanced by the silver nanoparticles of various sizes

Using sodium borohydride as the reducing agent and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP, MW = 10 000) as the stabilizer, we obtained silver nanoparticles of various diameters (8–78 nm) from silver nitrate aqueous solutions in the concentration range from 0.001 to 0.1 M. The surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from benzoic acid's ring‐breathing mode at 1003 cm⁻¹ was detected from its dilute solutions (∼10⁻² M) doped with these silver nanoparticles under 488‐nm laser excitation. The observed size dependences of SERS intensities fit quite well with those calculated by Schatz's theoretical model for spherical silver nanoparticles. The only exception occurred with the smallest particles (8 nm), possibly due to the failure of Maxwell's electromagnetic theory used in this model. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

金微/纳颗粒阵列的SERS效应研究

表面增强拉曼散射(surface-enhanced Raman scattering,简称为SERS)能够提供有机分子的指纹特征信息,且具有灵敏度高和响应时间快等优点,是一项具有发展前景的分析技术。纳米结构SERS基底是获得SERS信号的关键。本文利用简便的电沉积方法在硅片上制备大面积的金微/纳颗粒阵列。金纳米颗粒之间存在大量狭小的纳米间隙,在光激发下产生大量的SERS热点,从而具有很高的SERS灵敏度。而且,这种金微/纳结构具有高结构稳定性和化学稳定性。该结构对浓度低至10-12 M的罗丹明6G(R6G)具有很高的SERS灵敏性,且具有很好的SERS信号均匀性。利用这种微/纳结构阵列SERS基底,实现对水中低浓度农药甲基对硫磷的成功检测。这表明我们制备的金微/纳颗粒阵列在检测环境中的毒性有机物污染物方面具有潜在的应用前景。     

SERS activity and stability of the most frequently used silver colloids

Single‐molecule detection by surface‐enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectroscopy has been demonstrated for a variety of molecules. The detection of single molecules that do not have a resonance contribution, SERS, has been shown in the case of adenine. However, when colloidal particles isolated on planar substrates are used as the enhancing medium, the presence of anomalous signals significantly complicates the analysis of the spectra. Selection of a silver colloid that minimizes these spurious signals should improve the ultra‐sensitive detection of non‐resonant single molecules by SERS. A range of silver colloids, prepared by different methods, were investigated with respect to their activity and stability. Minimal anomalous signals were obtained from hydroxylamine‐reduced silver colloids, which suggests that this colloid will be better for ultra‐sensitive SE(R)RS experiments compared to the more common citrate‐ and borohydride‐reduced silver colloids. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Plasmon‐enhanced Raman scattering by suspended carbon nanotubes

We report plasmon‐enhanced Raman scattering of the order of 10³ by a metallic carbon nanotube partially suspended inside a near‐field cavity. The tube is part of a small bundle, and is interfaced with an Au nanodisc dimer using a recently developed assembly scheme based on dielectrophoretic deposition. Spatially resolved Raman measurements with two excitation wavelengths and two orthogonal polarizations confirm that the enhancement arises from a 65 nm long suspended tube segment. We show that the orientation of the tube inside the cavity can be as effective for generating enhancement as placing the nanotube precisely in a plasmonic hotspot. Position and shape of the G‐peak show that the suspended part of the tube is free of strain and doped with a Fermi energy shift ≤40 meV. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effect of different analyte diffusion/adsorption protocols on SERS signals

The effect of different analyte diffusion/adsorption protocols was studied which is often overlooked in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique. Three protocols: highly concentrated dilution (HCD) protocol, half–half dilution (HHD) protocol and layered adsorption (LA) protocol were studied and the SERS substrates were monolayer films of 80 nm Ag nanoparticles (NPs) which were modified by polyvinylpyrrolidone. The diffusion/adsorption mechanisms were modelled using the diffusion equation and the electromagnetic field distribution of two adjacent Ag NPs was simulated by the finite-different time-domain method. All experimental data and theoretical analysis suggest that different diffusion/adsorption behaviour of analytes will cause different SERS signal enhancements. HHD protocol could produce the most uniform and reproducible samples, and the corresponding signal intensity of the analyte is the strongest. This study will help to understand and promote the use of SERS technique in quantitative analysis.     

Piperidine adsorption on two different silver electrodes: A combined surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory study

The surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of piperidine in silver colloid solution, on roughened silver electrode and on roughened silver electrode modified with silver nanoparticles were studied, and the high-quality SERS spectra of piperidine on roughened silver electrode modified with silver nanoparticles were obtained for the first time. Surface selection rules derived from the EM enhancement model were employed to deduce piperidine orientations on the different surfaces. On the basis of this, two models of piperidine adsorbed on the surface of the silver nanoparticles were built, and DFT-B3PW91/LanL2dz was applied to calculate the Raman frequencies. It proves that, at higher potential values, the piperidine is perpendicularly standing on the roughened silver electrode surface though its lone-electron pair, but in silver colloid solution and on the silver nanoparticles modified silver electrode the piperidine molecular lies flat on the silver surface. In the meantime, the potential dependent SERS of piperidine on the modified electrode were studied.     

聚丙烯胺稳定铜纳米粒子的制备及其SERS活性研究

报道了聚丙烯胺稳定的球形和棒状铜纳米粒子的制备方法。在水溶液中空气条件下,通过水合肼还原二价铜离子到铜纳米粒子。聚丙烯胺的作用除稳定粒子防止聚集外,也可使粒子分散在水溶液中。该法的优点是在室温下,无需惰性气体保护,即可制备水溶液中分散的铜纳米粒子。紫外光谱和透射电镜监测了铜纳米粒子的生长过程。发现氢氧化钠的用量,聚丙烯胺浓度,反应时间等因素都影响到铜纳米粒子的组成,尺寸,形貌和聚集程度。氢氧化钠用量决定了制备粒子的组成成分是铜或氧化亚铜。所制备的球形铜纳米粒子表现出优良的表面增强拉曼散射活性。     

Controllable optical activity of non-spherical Ag and Co SERS substrate with different magnetic field

We experimentally fabricate a non-spherical Ag and Co surface-enhanced Raman scattering(SERS) substrate, which not only retains the metallic plasmon resonant effect, but also possesses the magnetic field controllable characteristics.Raman detections are carried out with the test crystal violet(CV) and rhodamine 6G(R6G) molecules with the initiation of different magnitudes of external magnetic field. Experimental results indicate that our prepared substrate shows a higher SERS activity and magnetic controllability, where non-spherical Ag nanoparticles are driven to aggregate effectively by the magnetized Co and plenty of hot-spots are built around the metallic Ag nanoparticles, thereby leading to the enhancement of local electromagnetic field. Moreover, when the external magnetic field is increased, our prepared substrate demonstrates excellent SERS enhancement. With the 2500 Gs and 3500 Gs(1 Gs = 10~(-4)T) magnetic fields, SERS signal can also be obtained with the detection limit lowering down to 10~(-9)M. These results indicate that our proposed magnetic field controlled substrate enables us to freely achieve the enhanced and controllable SERS effect, which can be widely used in the optical sensing, single molecule detection and bio-medical applications.     

SERS activity of pulsed laser ablated silver thin films with controlled nanostructure

The surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity of silver thin films deposited by the pulsed laser ablation technique was investigated. The samples were grown in a controlled Ar atmosphere at pressures ranging between 10 and 70 Pa, and changing the number of laser pulses. Different surface morphologies, from isolated nearly spherical nanoparticles (NPs) to larger islands with smooth edges, were observed by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopies, as a function of the different deposition conditions adopted. SERS measurements were performed by soaking the samples in rhodamine 6G aqueous solutions over the concentration range between 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ and 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ M . Raman spectra were acquired using both the 632.8 and 514.5 nm excitation sources. The dependence of the SERS activity of the samples on the observed surface morphology is presented and discussed. The presence of the so called hot spots is envisaged. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SERS of the anti‐inflammatory drug piroxicam adsorbed on the surface of silver or gold colloids as nanocarrier model

Piroxicam is a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug actually used with limitations because of serious side effects. It is poorly soluble in pure water and exhibit a minimum of four conformers according to the pH conditions of the solution, but not all of them are medically active. In this study, we present, firstly, the Raman characterization of piroxicam in different organic solvents (dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,4‐dioxane, ethanol, 1‐propanol). These results have permitted us to analyze surface‐enhance Raman scattering spectra of piroxicam adsorbed on gold or silver nanoparticles surface at several pHs (1, 2, 4, and 7), imitating the environment of the drug in the body, either in the gastrointestinal tract or in healthy and disease tissues. Results indicate that, below pH = 7, piroxicam is mainly in the zwitterionic conformer, and molecules are oriented parallel to the noble metal surface; however at pH ≥ 7, the main specie detected is the anionic one, differently oriented with respect to the nanoparticle surface. The metal‐piroxicam systems here characterized by surface‐enhance Raman scattering spectroscopy could constitute nanocarriers in future projects of transporting and releasing of the drug in the body. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nano-Raman spectroscopy with side-illumination optics

We describe an apertureless near-field Raman spectroscopy setup that has successfully produced substantial enhancements for a wide variety of samples and achieved a high contrast. The tremendous potential of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) for nanoscale chemical characterization has been demonstrated by various groups by measuring organic dyes, biological molecules, single-walled carbon nanotubes and silicon. Keys to rapid advances in the application of TERS to pressing scientific problems include the optimization of the method to achieve greater reproducibility and greater enhancement factors if possible, but more importantly, greater imaging contrast. Using a side-illumination geometry, we demonstrate reproducible enhancements of the Raman signal per volume on the order of 10³–10⁴ using silver- and gold-coated tips on various molecular, polymeric and semiconducting materials as well as on carbon nanotubes. We have experimentally verified localization of the enhancement to a depth of ∼20 nm. Most importantly, optimization of the polarization geometry makes possible a contrast between the near-field and far-field signals of 900% in the case of silicon—a level that makes the technique attractive for various applications. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.