Title: A novel method for SERS active substrates based on Au/PDMS self-assembled nanocracks

Authors: Qing Zhang; Fengzhou Fang; Zongwei Xu; Tingting Gao; Wenlong Gao

Addresses: State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Centre of MicroNano Manufacturing Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China ' State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Centre of MicroNano Manufacturing Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Tianjin MicroNano Manufacturing Tech. Co., Ltd., TEDA, Tianjin 300457, China ' State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Centre of MicroNano Manufacturing Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Tianjin MicroNano Manufacturing Tech. Co., Ltd., TEDA, Tianjin 300457, China ' State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Centre of MicroNano Manufacturing Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China ' State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Centre of MicroNano Manufacturing Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

Abstract: A novel method for a novel type of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrate is proposed with high enhancement and strong sensitivity advantages. It is based on nanoscale Au film nanocracks coated on polydimmethyl siloxane (PDMS) substrate which forms gold/polydimethylsiloxane (Au/PDMS) nanocomposites. The width of the coated nanocracks ranges from 10 nm to 45 nm by self-assembled. It is concluded that the ratio of main agent to firming agent of PDMS at 9:1 is optimum value for SERS due to its complicate texture of cracks. An enhancement factor (EF) as high as 3.14 * 10⁸ is achieved for 4-Mercaptobenzoic acid molecules adsorbed on the Au/PDMS nanocomposite substrates.

Keywords: surface enhanced Raman scattering; SERS active substrates; Au/PDMS nanocomposites; nanocracks; self-assembly; nanotechnology; gold; polydimethylsiloxane.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2014.063013

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2014 Vol.10 No.4, pp.404 - 414

Received: 13 Apr 2013
Accepted: 25 Oct 2013
Published online: 24 Jul 2014 *

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