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We report a convenient nanotechnique to fabricate indium tin oxide (ITO) capped titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanolace arrays for plasmonic photocatalysis. The topography can be tuned to optimize the photocatalytic efficiencies by adjusting the anodic voltage or the time of ITO magnetron sputtering. Microstructural analysis and finite difference time domain simulations indicate the generation of ITO surface plasmon resonance in the near-infrared region and ITO–TiO2 heterojunctions. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of such ITO–TiO2 composite nanostructures could spur further interest in the utilization of the near-infrared region for plasmonic photocatalysis.

We design and fabricate a simple self-powered system to collect analyte molecules in fluids for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection. The system is based on catalytic Au/SiO/Ti/Ag-layered microengines by employing rolled-up nanotechnology. Pronounced SERS signals are observed on microengines with more carrier molecules compared with the same structure without automatic motions.

A convenient technique is reported to fabricate Ag-SiOx hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs) as robust surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates based on roll-up nanotechnology. As an illustration, dramatic enhancement is achieved using Rhodamine 6G as a molecular probe, which indicates that a larger plasmonic density of states exist, leading to a greatly enhanced local electromagnetic (EM) field when the sample is irradiated with a laser beam. Optimized results are obtained by controlling the thickness of alumina coating onto Ag-SiOx HMMs using atomic layer deposition. Finite-difference time-domain simulations further illustrate the excitation of localized surface plasmon modes by calculating the EM field properties on the surface of Ag-SiOx HMMs. This efficient method of producing Ag-SiOx HMMs with highly SERS-active properties could spur expanding applications in metamaterials and bioanalysis.

A convenient technique was developed to fabricate gold-capped TiO 2 nanocomposites as robust, cost-efficient and recyclable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. The morphologies of obtained nanocomposites exhibit nanotube, nanolace, and nanopore nanostructures by adjusting TiO 2 anodization parameters. As an illustration, dramatic enhancement is achieved using Rhodamine 6G as a molecular probe. Owing to activation by the incident laser beam, the localized electromagnetic field on the nanocomposite surface can be enhanced subsequently amplifying the Raman signal. The topography can be further tuned to optimize the enhancement factor by adjusting the time of gold evaporation. Finite-difference time-domain calculations indicate the nanopore structure may possess excellent SERS characteristic due to the high density of hot spots. In addition, the substrate can be self-cleaned under ultraviolet irradiation due to the superior photocatalytic capacity of the Au–TiO 2 nanocomposites. Our Au–TiO 2 nanocomposites with highly SERS-active properties and recyclability shows promising applications in the detection and treatment of pollutants.

This work reports a facile method to fabricate gold coated copper(II) hydroxide pine-needle-like micro/nanostructures for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) application. The effects of reaction parameters on the shape, size and surface morphology of the products are systematically investigated. The as-prepared 3D hierarchical structures have the advantage of a large surface area available for the formation of hot spots and the adsorption of target analytes, thus dramatically improving the Raman signals. The finite difference time domain calculations indicate that the pine-needle-like model pattern may demonstrate a high quality SERS property owing to the high density and abundant hot spot characteristic in closely spaced needle-like arms.

Surface enhanced fluorescence (SEF) utilizes the local electromagnetic environment to enhance fluorescence from the analyte on the surface of a solid substrate with nanostructures. While the detection sensitivity of SEF is improved with the development of nano-techniques, detection of multiple analytes by SEF is still a challenge due to the compromise between the high enhancing efficiency and broad response bandwidth. In this article, a high-efficiency SEF substrate with broad response bandwidth is obtained by embedding silver in an aluminum film to produce additional bonding and anti-bonding hybridized states. The bimetallic film is fabricated by ion implantation and the ion energy and fluence are tailored to control subsurface location of the fabricated bimetallic nanostructures. The process circumvents the inherent limit of aluminum materials and extends the plasmon band of aluminum from deep UV to visible range. Fluorescence from different dyes excited by 310 nm to 555 nm is enhanced by up to 11 folds on the single bimetallic film and the result is theoretically confirmed by finite-difference time-domain simulations. This work demonstrates that bimetallic film can be used for optical detection of multiple analytes.

Indium-tin-oxide (ITO) nanoparticles were annealed in vacuum or reducing atmosphere to obtain different surface structures and investigate their influence on the adsorptive character and conformation of cytochrome c (Cyt c) molecule. Annealing-induced morphometric or structural changes of ITO nanoparticles were characterized by instruments of transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and Raman scattering. Semiconductor ITO nanoparticle-enhanced Raman scattering of Cyt c was observed and the enhanced efficiency was found to closely depend on the surface structures which control the adsorbance of buffer anions needed for Cyt c loading. Direct electron transfer between Cyt c and ITO surface at the moment of molecular elastic collision was found and a reverse electron transfer process for O-terminated surface and metal-terminated surface was observed, according to absorption spectroscopic measurement on the residual solution.

This work reports an efficient method to fabricate large-area flexible substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) application. Our technique is based on a single-step direct imprint process via porous anodic alumina stamps. Periodic hexagonal arrangements of porous anodic alumina stamps are transferred to the polyethylene terephthalate substrates by mechanically printing process. Printed nanocaps will turn into “hot spots” for electromagnetic enhancement with a deposited gold film by high vacuum evaporation. The gaps between the nanocaps are controllable with a tight correspondence to the thickness of the deposited gold, which dramatically influence the enhancement factor. After covered with a single-layer graphene sheet, the gold nanocap substrate can be further optimized with an extra enhancement of Raman signals, and it is available for the trace detection of probe molecules. This convenient, simple, and low-cost method of making flexible SERS-active substrates potentially opens a way towards biochemical analysis and disease detection.