In this study, Ag–TiO2 was synthesized by reducing AgNO3. AgNO3 and anatase TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were boiled with sodium citrate, resulting in the reduction of Ag. Ag was used to coat the anatase TiO2 NP surfaces. At this stage, the assembly reaction on the anatase TiO2 surface was incomplete. The acidity with pH 4 or less was subsequently adjusted using dilute HCl. After processing, Ag was distributed over the entire surface of anatase TiO2. Furthermore, the synthesized Ag–TiO2 could be adsorbed on an Al or glass surface using 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. Al plates were used to create a substrate exhibiting surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity, and Raman intensity was measured for pyridine. Ag remained stable on the TiO2 surface for over five months. The proposed method, which is cost effective and simple, can be used to prepare materials for studying the environment and so on.
Chemical adsorption of anatase TiO2, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), and Cu particles (Cu Ps) on aluminum (Al) surface yielded an active surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. TiO2 is known to reduce both silver (Ag) and copper (Cu). In an oxidizing environment, Ag NPs remain unoxidized since Cu has a more negative redox potential than Ag. Ag is therefore protected by Cu from getting oxidized. Although Ag NPs exhibit better SERS activity than Au NPs, Ag is relatively easier to oxidize, limiting the development of Ag-based nanomaterials. Therefore, despite the poor SERS activity of Au nanoparticles than that of Ag nanoparticles, Au nanoparticles have been widely used. Herein, the stabilization of Ag nanoparticles by incorporating a reductive process using anatase TiO2 is reported. The fabricated substrates bearing anatase, Ag NPs, and Cu Ps were stable, as seen by Raman spectra, and remained unchanged for more than 2 months.
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