Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy using silver nanoparticles on a precoated microscope slide

A chemical reduction method was applied to deposit nano silver particles on a frosted microscope slide, precoated with indium tin oxide. The substrate was used to collect the surface-enhanced Raman spectrum of N1'-ethyl indirubin monooxime (EIM), a potential chemical for pharmaceutical application. From the observed surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum, EIM might interact with silver surface through the lone pair electrons of the oxime nitrogen atoms. Crystal violet (CV) and p-nitrobenzoic acid (PNBA) were also used to test the SERS probe capability of the substrate. The surface morphorlogy of the substrate has been characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The elementary composition was identified with Edex and X-ray element scanning.