Facile Method To Prepare Surface-Enhanced-Raman-Scattering-Active Ag Nanostructures on Silica Spheres

Abstract

In this paper we describe a very simple electroless plating method used to prepare Ag-coated silica beads. Robust Ag nanostructures can be reproducibly fabricated by soaking silica beads in ethanolic solutions of AgNO(3) and butylamine. When the molar ratio of butylamine to AgNO(3) is far below 1.0, distinct nanosized Ag particles are formed on the silica beads, but by increasing the amount of butylamine, network-like Ag nanostructures are formed that possess very broad UV/vis absorption characteristics extending from near-UV to near-infrared regions. In conformity with the UV/vis absorption characteristics, the Ag-deposited silica beads were highly efficient surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates, with the enhancement factor estimated using benzenethiol as a model adsorbate to be larger than 10(6). Since another silica layer can be readily deposited onto the Ag surface, the Ag-coated silica beads should be invaluable in the development of SERS-based biosensors.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering: A Powerful Tool for Chemical Identification

“…[22][23][24][25]57 It is especially noteworthy that the Ag-nanocoated fabric was validated as an effective antiseptic bandage. 57 The advantage of the present Ag film formation is that in addition to the simplicity of the reaction, the loading levels of Ag nanoparticles on cotton fabrics can be controlled simply by varying the concentration of AgNO3 and butylamine.…”

“…8A). 23,24,63 Robust Ag nanostructures are reproducibly fabricated by soaking polystyrene beads in ethanolic solutions of AgNO3 and butylamine. When the molar ratio of butylamine to AgNO3 is far below 1.0, distinct nanosized Ag particles are formed on the polystyrene beads, but by increasing the amount of butylamine, network-like Ag nanostructures are formed that possess very broad UV/vis absorption characteristics extending from the near-UV to near-infrared regions.…”

“…We have recently found a very simple method that can repeatedly produce highly SERS-active Ag films on dielectric substrates, such as glass. [22][23][24][25] This is based on the fact that aliphatic amines can act as reductants and stabilizers simultaneously when preparing Ag and Au nanoparticles by thermal activation. 26 This method only requires the incubation of negatively charged glass substrates in a solution of Ag ions with aliphatic amines, such as butylamine at moderate temperatures.…”

Hetero-nanostructure of silver nanoparticles on MO x (M = Mo, Ti and Si) and their applications

“…The formation process for the Ag@SiO 2 @Ag sandwiching nanostructures was shown in Scheme 2. Ag + was reduced to Ag small particles by PVP at 75 °C, and the Ag particles were confined by the surrounding PVP, which can prevent the Ag particles from aggregation [49,50]. After 2 h reaction, the concentration of Ag + in the solution was reduced, in which most Ag + ions were reduced to Ag nanoparticles and the reaction stopped.…”

A facile strategy for synthesis of multilayer and conductive organo-silica/polystyrene/polyaniline composite particles

“…Such composite colloids are well known for the advantages of incorporating physical and chemical properties of their respective component counterparts. Therefore, these objects have become one of the most effective sources for advanced materials, and led to interesting applications in the fields of catalysis, chemical and biological sensor, coating, drug storage and controlled release, photo crystals, surface-enhanced spectroscopy, and so on [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14].…”