Brieva, A. C.; Alves, L.; Krishnamurthy, S. and Šiller, L.
(2009).
Gold surface with gold nitride-a surface enhanced Raman scattering active substrate.
Journal of Applied Physics, 105(5)
Full text available as:
Abstract
The nitration of gold surfaces is a nonpolluting method, which can lead to large scale production of substrates with remarkable properties and applications. We present a topographical study of the nanoscale structure of the gold nitride surfaces produced by radio frequency (rf) nitrogen plasma etching of thin gold films. Atomic force microscopy images taken after rf etching reveal the striking appearance of the cluster assembly with large clusters surrounded by small clusters (7.9 ± 1.4 and 2.3 ± 0.9 nm, respectively) appearing to exhibit an attractive interaction. We discuss the possible mechanism for this attraction based on a colloid model by Messina et al [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 872 (2000)]. This surface exhibits a notable surface enhanced Raman scattering effect demonstrated with L-alanine and rhodamine-6G. The significance of this work is that we found that this SERS active gold nitride surface can be prepared in just one step: by nitrogen plasma etching a thin gold film. Until now most SERS active gold cluster covered surfaces have been prepared in several steps very often requiring complex lithography.
| Item Type: |
Journal Article
|
| Copyright Holders: |
2009 American Institute of Physics |
| Funders: |
EPSRC (Grant no. EP/C006011/1) |
| Extra Information: |
This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. |
| Keywords: |
film preparation; gold; gold compounds; gold metallurgy; metallic films; nitrides; plasma diagnostics; plasma etching; plasmas; raman scattering; substrates, atomic forces; cluster assemblies; gold clusters; gold nitrides; gold surfaces; L alanines; large clusters; large scale productions; nano-scale structures; nitrogen plasmas; one steps; radio frequencies; small clusters; surface enhanced raman scatterings; thin gold films, surface properties |
| Academic Unit/Department: |
Mathematics, Computing and Technology > Design, Development, Environment and Materials |
| Item ID: |
35407 |
| Depositing User: |
Satheesh Krishnamurthy
|
| Date Deposited: |
16 Nov 2012 14:11 |
| Last Modified: |
24 Apr 2013 17:37 |
| URI: |
http://oro.open.ac.uk/id/eprint/35407 |
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