Surface enhanced Raman spectra of isomeric acetylpyridines adsorbed on silver sol

Raman spectra of 2-, 3- and 4-acetylpyridines (AP) are obtained in bulk phase, in aqueous solution and in the adsorbed state on colloidal silver particles. Addition of the acetylpyridines on the Ag-sol results in aggregation of the silver particles showing characteristic charge transfer (CT) bands. Significant surface enhancement of the Raman bands are observed. Both the estimated enhancement factor and the absorption maxima of the CT bands are in inverse parallel relationship with the electron density on the nitrogen atom as reflected by the Hammett σ values of the substituents. It is inferred that the charge transfer interactions between the adsorbates and the metal particles contribute to the enhancement mechanism. This is further substantiated by the concentration dependence of enhancement. A classical electromagnetic contribution is demonstrated by the Raman excitation frequency dependence of SERS. The results further show that the molecules are adsorbed on the metal surface through the nitrogen atom. Appearance of some out-of-plane modes in the SERS spectra suggests that the pyridyl ring planes are not perpendicular to the metal surface, but are tilted.