Surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity of niobium surface after irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses
- Faculty of Physics, Sofia University, 5 James Bourchier Blvd., 1164 Sofia (Bulgaria)
- Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics, BAS, 72 Tzarigradsko Chaussee, 1784 Sofia (Bulgaria)
- National Institute of Material Physics, 105 bis Atomistilor Street, 077125 Magurele-Ilfov (Romania)
The chemical modification of the niobium (Nb) surface after irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses was investigated by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The physical-chemical analyses indicated that the laser treatment results in oxidation of the Nb surface, as well as in the formation of Nb hydrides. Remarkably, after the samples' washing in ethanol, a strong Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) signal originating from the toluene residual traces was evidenced. Further, it was observed that the laser irradiated Nb surface is able to provide a SERS enhancement of ∼1.3 × 10{sup 3} times for rhodamine 6G solutions. Thus, for the first time it was shown that Nb/Nb oxide surfaces could exhibit SERS functionality, and so one can expect applications in biological/biochemical screening or for sensing of dangerous environmental substances.
- OSTI ID:
- 22492960
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 118, Issue 20; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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