Controlled assembly of highly Raman-enhancing silver nanocap arrays templated by porous anodic alumina membranes

Small. 2009 Oct;5(20):2333-7. doi: 10.1002/smll.200900577.

Abstract

A convenient nanoscale technique is reported for the fabrication of highly ordered hemispherical silver nanocap arrays templated by porous anodic alumina (PAA) membranes as robust and cost-efficient surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. This geometry produces a high Raman signal due to its periodic hexagonal arrangements and control of the gap between the nanostructures in the sub-10-nm regime. The surface structure can be tuned further to optimize the enhancement factor according to optional PAA fabrication and silver deposition parameters. Finite-difference time-domain calculations indicate that the structure may possess excellent SERS characteristics due to the high density and abundance of hot spots.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology
  • Silver / chemistry*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods*

Substances

  • Silver