Surface-enhanced Raman scattering on nanoporous Au.

Authors :: Kucheyev, S. O.
Hayes, J. R.
Biener, J.
Huser, T.
Talley, C. E.
Hamza, A. V.
Source :: Applied Physics Letters; 7/31/2006, Vol. 89 Issue 5, p053102, 3p, 1 Black and White Photograph, 3 Graphs
Publication Year :: 2006
Abstract: Colloidal solutions of metal nanoparticles are currently among the most studied substrates for sensors based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). However, such substrates often suffer from not being cost-effective, reusable, or stable. Here, we develop nanoporous Au as a highly active, tunable, stable, biocompatible, and reusable SERS substrate. Nanoporous Au is prepared by a facile process of free corrosion of AgAu alloys followed by annealing. Results show that nanofoams with average pore widths of ∼250 nm exhibit the largest SERS signal for 632.8 nm excitation. This is attributed to the electromagnetic SERS enhancement mechanism with additional field localization within pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]