In Situ Nanoscale Investigation of Catalytic Reactions in the Liquid Phase Using Zirconia-Protected Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Probes.

ABSTRACT: Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is a promising technique that enables nondestructive and label-free topographical and chemical imaging at the nanoscale. However, its scope for in situ characterization of catalytic reactions in the liquid phase has remained limited due to the lack of durable and chemically inert plasmonically active TERS probes. Herein, we present novel zirconia-protected TERS probes with 3 orders of magnitude increase in lifetime under ambient conditions compared to unprotected silver-coated probes, together with high stability in liquid media. Employing the plasmon-assisted oxidation of p-aminothiophenol as a model reaction, we demonstrate that the highly robust, durable, and chemically inert zirconia-protected TERS probes can be successfully used for nanoscale spa

SUBMITTER: Kumar N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6477806 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature