Signature of Plasmonic Nanostructures Synthesised by Electrical Exploding Wire Technique on Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

Abstract

This work aims to fabricate two types of plasmonic nanostructures by electrical exploding wire (EEW) technique and study the effects of the different morphologies of these nanostructures on the absorption spectra and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) activities, using Rhodamine 6G as a probe molecule. The structural properties of these nanostructures were examined using X-Ray diffraction (XRD). The morphological properties were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The absorption spectra of the mixed R6G laser dye (concentration 1×10^-6 M) with prepared nanostructures were examined by double beam UV-Vis Spectrophotometer. The Raman spectra of the R6G mixed with the prepared nanostructures were examined using a Horiba HR Evolution 800 Raman microscope system with an objective lens (50 ×). The FESEM and STEM images indicated that the Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) with 35 nm average particle sizes were decorated on the surface of the AgNWs and the PDA layer by EEW technique, forming AgNW@AgNPs and AgNW@PDA@AgNPs nanostructures. The results indicated that the increased intensities of the absorption spectra peaks and the SERS arise from the hot spots and the roughness of the surface of nanostructures. The SERS enhancement factor of R6G (1×10^-6 M) was reached at 2.3×10⁷ and 2.5×10⁷, at the wave number of 1650 cm^-1, for the AgNW@AgNPs and AgNW@PDA@AgNPs nanostructures, respectively, after being excited by (λ_exc. = 532 nm) laser source. It can be concluded that the AgNW@AgNPs and AgNW@PDA@AgNPs nanostructures were fabricated with an easy and simple way without the need for additional chemical compounds. These nanostructures attained a reliable and sensitive detection and can be utilized in a variety of SERS applications, such as chemical and biological sensors.