Issue 19, 2013
From the journal:

Nanoscale

Tunable SERS using gold nanoaggregates on an elastomeric substrate†

M. Kamal Hossain,‡ab   Geoff R. Willmott,*ab   Pablo G. Etchegoin,ac   Richard J. Blaikie§ad  and  Jeffery L. Tallonab  

* Corresponding authors

a The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, New Zealand
E-mail: geoff.willmott@callaghaninnovation.govt.nz
Fax: +64 (0)4 931 3754
Tel: +64 (0)4 931 3220

b Callaghan Innovation, 69 Gracefield Rd, Lower Hutt, New Zealand

c School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

d Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract

We report on the self-assembly of colloidal gold nanoparticles on a stretchable, elastomeric membrane, and the use of this membrane as a base substrate for far-field confocal Raman measurements. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement for such a substrate was estimated as 106 to 107. Atomic force microscopy has been used to study the changes in nanoparticle topography when the membrane is stretched. The homogeneous strain defined by average relative motion of nanoparticles is approximately half the macroscopically-applied biaxial strain. The SERS intensity was maximized when the membrane was at rest (i.e. without stretch), and reduced as stretching was increased. Our measurements are consistent with theoretical and numerical SERS enhancements for the interstitial gap between two spheres. The data indicate that the resting gap between the spheres is 11 nm or 16 nm, using two theoretical models. This work represents progress towards particularly facile sample fabrication and in situ tuning techniques for SERS.

Graphical abstract: Tunable SERS using gold nanoaggregates on an elastomeric substrate

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3NR03021K
Article type
Communication
Submitted
12 Jun 2013
Accepted
27 Jul 2013
First published
02 Aug 2013

Nanoscale, 2013,5, 8945-8950

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Tunable SERS using gold nanoaggregates on an elastomeric substrate

M. K. Hossain, G. R. Willmott, P. G. Etchegoin, R. J. Blaikie and J. L. Tallon, Nanoscale, 2013, 5, 8945 DOI: 10.1039/C3NR03021K

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