On the stability of microwave-fabricated SERS substrates – chemical and morphological considerations

Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology

article

Limin Wang¹  Aisha Adebola Womiloju¹  Christiane Höppener³  Ulrich S. Schubert¹  Stephanie Hoeppener¹ 

[1] Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry ,(IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena;Jena Center for Soft Matter ,(JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena;Leibniz-Institut of Photonic Technology e.V.;Institute of Physical Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena

关键词: chemical stability;    microwave synthesis;    scanning electronmicroscopy;    silver nanoparticles;    surface-enhanced Ramanspectroscopy;   

DOI  :  10.3762/bjnano.12.44

学科分类：环境监测和分析

来源: Beilstein - Institut zur Foerderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften

【 摘 要 】

The stability of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates in different organic solvents and different buffer solutions was investigated. SERS substrates were fabricated by a microwave-assisted synthesis approach and the morphological as wellas chemical changes of the SERS substrates were studied. It was demonstrated that the SERS substrates treated with methanol,ethanol, or N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) were comparable and showed overall good stability and did not show severe morphological changes or a strong decrease in their Raman activity. Toluene treatment resulted in a strong decrease in the Raman activitywhereas dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment completely preserved or even slightly improved the Raman enhancement capabilities. SERS substrates immersed into phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solutions were observed to be rather instable in low andneutral pH buffer solutions. Other buffer systems showed less severe influences on the SERS activity of the substrates and acarbonate buffer at pH 10 was found to even improve SERS performance. This study represents a guideline on the stability ofmicrowave-fabricated SERS substrates or other SERS substrates consisting of non-stabilized silver nanoparticles for the application of different organic solvents and buffer solutions.

【 授权许可】

CC BY