Plasma-polymerized fluorocarbon Ag–Cu nanocomposites: Nanostructure optimization for superior SERS sensitivity
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) enables the precise identification of molecules by enhancing the Raman signals of target compounds. This enhancement relies on the presence of Raman-active molecules on suitable nanostructures, where local surface plasmon resonance creates electromagnetic h...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Applied Surface Science Advances |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666523924001181 |
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| author | Joonhyuk Lee Sung Hyun Kim Seok-Kyun Son Sang-Jin Lee |
| author_facet | Joonhyuk Lee Sung Hyun Kim Seok-Kyun Son Sang-Jin Lee |
| author_sort | Joonhyuk Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) enables the precise identification of molecules by enhancing the Raman signals of target compounds. This enhancement relies on the presence of Raman-active molecules on suitable nanostructures, where local surface plasmon resonance creates electromagnetic hotspots. This paper proposes a method to finely control the distribution of Ag and Cu nanoparticles within a plasma–polymer–fluorocarbon (PPFC) thin film by adjusting the sputtering power density to improve SERS performance. We fabricated Ag–Cu nanocomposite PPFC (CAP) thin films by sputtering at different mid-range-frequency sputtering densities, resulting in variations in the optical absorption wavelengths and changes in the Ag/Cu ratio, as confirmed by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. SERS measurements using rhodamine 6G demonstrated an enhancement factor (EF) of up to 108, further supported by finite-difference time-domain simulations based on nanostructures characterized by atomic force microscopy. We applied the prepared CAP thin films to contaminated surfaces and assessed their ability to enhance Raman signals for point-of-care detection. Despite a reduced EF due to the absorption of the thick polyethylene terephthalate substrate, the films generated identifiable Raman signals. This work highlights the potential of CAP thin films in creating flexible, tightly integrated, and highly sensitive SERS-active substrates. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6c4964f63342428995e3da946d86aa5d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-5239 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Surface Science Advances |
| spelling | doaj-art-6c4964f63342428995e3da946d86aa5d2025-01-29T05:02:11ZengElsevierApplied Surface Science Advances2666-52392025-01-0125100690Plasma-polymerized fluorocarbon Ag–Cu nanocomposites: Nanostructure optimization for superior SERS sensitivityJoonhyuk Lee0Sung Hyun Kim1Seok-Kyun Son2Sang-Jin Lee3Chemical Materials Solutions Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon 34114, Republic of KoreaEngineering Research Center for Color Modulation Extrasensory Cognitive Technology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Physics, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea; Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117544, Singapore; Corresponding authors.School of Semiconductor Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea; Corresponding authors.Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) enables the precise identification of molecules by enhancing the Raman signals of target compounds. This enhancement relies on the presence of Raman-active molecules on suitable nanostructures, where local surface plasmon resonance creates electromagnetic hotspots. This paper proposes a method to finely control the distribution of Ag and Cu nanoparticles within a plasma–polymer–fluorocarbon (PPFC) thin film by adjusting the sputtering power density to improve SERS performance. We fabricated Ag–Cu nanocomposite PPFC (CAP) thin films by sputtering at different mid-range-frequency sputtering densities, resulting in variations in the optical absorption wavelengths and changes in the Ag/Cu ratio, as confirmed by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. SERS measurements using rhodamine 6G demonstrated an enhancement factor (EF) of up to 108, further supported by finite-difference time-domain simulations based on nanostructures characterized by atomic force microscopy. We applied the prepared CAP thin films to contaminated surfaces and assessed their ability to enhance Raman signals for point-of-care detection. Despite a reduced EF due to the absorption of the thick polyethylene terephthalate substrate, the films generated identifiable Raman signals. This work highlights the potential of CAP thin films in creating flexible, tightly integrated, and highly sensitive SERS-active substrates.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666523924001181Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopyLocal surface plasmon resonanceAg–Cu nanocompositePlasma-polymer-fluorocarbonPoint-of-care detection |
| spellingShingle | Joonhyuk Lee Sung Hyun Kim Seok-Kyun Son Sang-Jin Lee Plasma-polymerized fluorocarbon Ag–Cu nanocomposites: Nanostructure optimization for superior SERS sensitivity Applied Surface Science Advances Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy Local surface plasmon resonance Ag–Cu nanocomposite Plasma-polymer-fluorocarbon Point-of-care detection |
| title | Plasma-polymerized fluorocarbon Ag–Cu nanocomposites: Nanostructure optimization for superior SERS sensitivity |
| title_full | Plasma-polymerized fluorocarbon Ag–Cu nanocomposites: Nanostructure optimization for superior SERS sensitivity |
| title_fullStr | Plasma-polymerized fluorocarbon Ag–Cu nanocomposites: Nanostructure optimization for superior SERS sensitivity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plasma-polymerized fluorocarbon Ag–Cu nanocomposites: Nanostructure optimization for superior SERS sensitivity |
| title_short | Plasma-polymerized fluorocarbon Ag–Cu nanocomposites: Nanostructure optimization for superior SERS sensitivity |
| title_sort | plasma polymerized fluorocarbon ag cu nanocomposites nanostructure optimization for superior sers sensitivity |
| topic | Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy Local surface plasmon resonance Ag–Cu nanocomposite Plasma-polymer-fluorocarbon Point-of-care detection |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666523924001181 |
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