title: Novel Au-Ag hybrid device for electrochemical SE(R)R spectroscopy in a wide potential and spectral range.
abstract: A nanostructured gold-silver-hybrid electrode for SER spectroelectrochemistry was developed which advantageously combines the electrochemical properties and chemical stability of Au and the strong surface enhancement of (resonance) Raman scattering by Ag. The layered device consists of a massive nanoscopically rough Ag electrode, a thin (2 nm) organic layer, and a ca. 20 nm thick Au film that may be coated by self-assembled monolayers for protein adsorption. The SERR-spectroscopic and electrochemical performance of this device is demonstrated using the heme protein cytochrome c as a benchmark model system, thereby extending, for the first time, SE(R)R studies of molecules on Au surfaces to excitation in the violet spectral range. The enhancement factor is only slightly lower than for Ag electrodes which can be rationalized in terms of an efficient transfer of plasmon resonance excitation from the Ag to the Au coating. This mechanism, which requires a thin dielectric layer between the two metals, is supported by theoretical calculations.
authors.affiliation: Institut fur Chemie, Technische Universitat Berlin, Sekr. PC 14, Strasse des 17, Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jiu-Ju
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gernert
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sezer
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kuhlmann
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Murgida
authors.forename: Christin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Marten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knorr
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.forename: Inez M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Weidinger
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold