We demonstrate an ultrafast laser-ablated
hierarchically patterned
silver nanoparticle/graphene oxide (AgNP/GO) hybrid surface-enhanced
Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for highly sensitive and reproducible
detection of an explosive marker 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT). A hierarchical
laser-patterned silver sheet (Ag–S) is achieved by ultrafast
laser ablation in air with pulse energies of 25, 50, and 100 μJ.
Multiple laser pulses at a wavelength of 800 nm and a pulse repetition
rate of 50 fs at 1 kHz are directly focused on Ag–S to produce
and deposit AgNPs onto Ag–S. The surface morphology of ablated
Ag–S was evaluated using atomic force microscopy, optical profilometry,
and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). A rapid increase
in the ablation rate with increasing laser energy was observed. Selected
area Raman mapping is performed to understand the intensity and size
distribution of AgNPs on Ag–S. Further, GO was spin-coated
onto the AgNPs produced by ultrafast ablation on Ag–S. The
hierarchical laser-patterned AgNP/GO hybrid structure was characterized
using FESEM, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray
diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.
Further, hierarchical laser-patterned AgNP/GO hybrid structures have
been utilized as SERS-active substrates for the selective detection
of 2,4-DNT, an explosive marker. The developed SERS-active sensor
shows good stability and high sensitivity up to picomolar (pM) concentration
range with a Raman intensity enhancement of ∼1010 for 2,4-DNT. The realized enhancement of SERS intensity is due to
the cumulative effect of GO coated on Ag–S as a proactive layer
and AgNPs produced by ultrafast ablation.