Controlling surface morphology and sensitivity of granular and porous silver films for surface-enhanced Raman scattering, SERS.

ABSTRACT: The design of efficient substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for large-scale fabrication at low cost is an important issue in further enhancing the use of SERS for routine chemical analysis. Here, we systematically investigate the effect of different radio frequency (rf) plasmas (argon, hydrogen, nitrogen, air and oxygen plasma) as well as combinations of these plasmas on the surface morphology of thin silver films. It was found that different surface structures and different degrees of surface roughness could be obtained by a systematic variation of the plasma type and condition as well as plasma power and treatment time. The differently roughened silver surfaces act as efficient SERS substrates showing greater enhancement factors compared to as prepared, sputtered, b

SUBMITTER: Okeil S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6244324 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature