Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and structural characterization of Ag/Cu chiral nano-flower sculptured thin films

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 280; pp. 439 - 445
• Main Authors: Savaloni, Hadi, Babaei, Reza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.09.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: 4,4′-bipyridine; Atomic force microscopy; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Copper; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Nanostructure; Physics; Raman spectroscopy; Sculptured thin films; Silver; Silver chiral nano-flowers; Stretching; Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy; Symmetry; Thin films; 4,4′-bipyridine; Sculptured thin films; Silver chiral nano-flowers; Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy; Thin films; Silver; Raman spectra; 4,4'-bipyridine; Transition elements
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.05.006

•Silver chiral nano-flowers with 3-, 4-, and 5-fold symmetry thin films are produced.•Structural characteristics are obtained using FESEM, AFM and XRD.•Application of Ag nano-flowers as substrate for SERS is achieved.•Application of Ag nano-flowers as hydrophobic surfaces is studied. Silver chiral nano-flower sculptured thin films with 3-, 4- and 5-fold symmetry were produced on copper substrates using oblique angle deposition method in conjunction with rotation of sample holder with different speeds at different sectors of each revolution corresponding to symmetry order of the acquired nano-flower. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were employed to obtain morphologies and nano-structure of the films. Raman spectroscopy was performed on all samples that were subject to impregnation by 4,4′-bipyridine (C10H8N2) solution. A high degree of enhancement of the main bands at 1610, 1297, and 1009cm−1 that can be assigned to the CC stretching mode, aromatic ring stretching ring and in-plane ring mode of 4,4′-bipyridine, is achieved.