This paper describes the development of a nanoscale optical pH probe based upon the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties of silica-gold core-shell nanoparticles. In this approach, a thin layer of gold is deposited onto a core of silica to form a metallic nanoshell with surface plasmon modes in the red-to-near-infrared spectral region. The surface of the nanoshell is functionalized with a pH-sensitive SERS reporter molecule, 4-mercaptopyridine (4-MPy). The SERS spectra of 4-MPy is shown to be sensitive to the pH of the surrounding media within the range of 3 to 7. In addition, it is shown that individual silica-gold core-shell nanoparticles yield more reliable SERS spectra than aggregates of core-shell nanoparticles.

MnO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simple combustion method using MnSO4.4H2O. The crystalline phase, morphology, optical property and magnetic property of the as prepared nanoparticle were characterized using XRD, FT-IR, FTRaman, SEM, UV-Vis, PL and VSM respectively. Structural studies by XRD indicate that the synthesized material as tetragonal rutile crystal structure. FT-IR and FT-Raman analysis revealed the stretching vibrations of metal ions in tetrahedral co-ordination confirming the crystal structure. The PL and UV analysis having an emission band at 390 nm, showed a prominent blue peak at 453 nm as well as a green emission lines at 553 nm with band gap energy of 3.2eV. Magnetic measurements indicate that the Néel temperature of the β-MnO2 structures is 92.5K for Hc = 100 Oe which showed antiferromagnetic behaviour.

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