title: Silver nanoparticle-mesoporous oxide nanocomposite thin films: a platform for spatially homogeneous SERS-active substrates with enhanced stability.
abstract: We introduce a nanoparticle-mesoporous oxide thin film composite (NP-MOTF) as low-cost and straightforward sensing platforms for surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). Titania, zirconia, and silica mesoporous matrices templated with Pluronics F-127 were synthesized via evaporation-induced self-assembly and loaded with homogeneously dispersed Ag nanoparticles by soft reduction or photoreduction. Both methods give rise to uniform and reproducible Raman signals using 4-mercaptopyridine as a probe molecule. Details on stability and reproducibility of the Raman enhancement are discussed. Extensions in the design of these composite structures were explored including detection of nonthiolated molecules, such as rhodamine 6-G or salicylic acid, patterning techniques for locating the enhancement regions and bilayered mesoporous structures to provide additional control on the environment, and potential size-selective filtration. These inorganic oxide-metal composites stand as extremely simple, reproducible, and versatile platforms for Raman spectroscopy analysis.
authors.affiliation: Gerencia Química, Centro Atómico Constituyentes, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA) , Av. Gral Paz 1499 B1650KNA San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolosiuk
authors.forename: Nicolás G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Tognalli
authors.forename: Eduardo D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Granada
authors.forename: M Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fuertes
authors.forename: Horacio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Troiani
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bilmes
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fainstein
authors.forename: Galo J A A
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Soler-Illia