Self-assembled large Au nanoparticle arrays with regular hot spots for SERS.
- Center for Nanoscale Materials
The cost-effective self-assembly of 80 nm Au nanoparticles (NPs) into large-domain, hexagonally close-packed arrays for high-sensitivity and high-fidelity surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is demonstrated. These arrays exhibit specific optical resonances due to strong interparticle coupling, which are well reproduced by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. The gaps between NPs form a regular lattice of hot spots that enable a large amplification of both photoluminescence and Raman signals. At smaller wavelengths the hot spots are extended away from the minimum-gap positions, which allows SERS of larger analytes that do not fit into small gaps. Using CdSe quantum dots (QDs) a 3-5 times larger photoluminescence enhancement than previously reported is experimentally demonstrated and an unambiguous estimate of the electromagnetic SERS enhancement factor of {approx}10{sup 4} is obtained by direct scanning electron microscopy imaging of QDs responsible for the Raman signal. Much stronger enhancement of {approx}10{sup 8} is obtained at larger wavelengths for benzenethiol molecules penetrating the NP gaps.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1022438
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/MSD/JA-69968; TRN: US201117%%594
- Journal Information:
- Small, Vol. 7, Issue 16 ; Aug. 22, 2011
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
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