Kinetics-Controlled Simple Method for the Preparation of Au@Ag Hierarchical Superstructures for SERS Analysis
Silver nanostructures exhibit exceptional surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance due to their strong plasmonic resonance. However, their practical applications are often hindered by structural instability, leading to deformation and performance degradation. In this study, we developed...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Inorganics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6740/13/6/191 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849472214887301120 |
|---|---|
| author | Mengqi Lyu Ming Jiang Hanting Yu Kailiang Wu Peitao Zhu Yingke Zhu Yan Xia Juan Li |
| author_facet | Mengqi Lyu Ming Jiang Hanting Yu Kailiang Wu Peitao Zhu Yingke Zhu Yan Xia Juan Li |
| author_sort | Mengqi Lyu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Silver nanostructures exhibit exceptional surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance due to their strong plasmonic resonance. However, their practical applications are often hindered by structural instability, leading to deformation and performance degradation. In this study, we developed a kinetics-controlled synthetic strategy to fabricate gold-encapsulated silver (Au@Ag) hierarchical superstructures (HSs) with enhanced SERS activity and stability. By leveraging polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a surface modifier and precisely regulating the introduction rate of reaction precursors, we achieved meticulous control over the galvanic replacement kinetics, thereby preserving the structural integrity of pre-synthesized Ag HSs during the formation of Au@Ag HSs. The resulting well-defined Au@Ag HSs demonstrated superior SERS performance, achieving a detection limit of 10<sup>−9</sup> M for crystal violet (CV) while exhibiting outstanding signal reproducibility (relative standard deviation, RSD = 11.60%). This work provides a robust and scalable approach to designing stable, high-efficiency SERS-active nanostructures with broad potential in analytical and sensing applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9f8e7b60f9d943aaa2ebd0f65e8aeab1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2304-6740 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Inorganics |
| spelling | doaj-art-9f8e7b60f9d943aaa2ebd0f65e8aeab12025-08-20T03:24:36ZengMDPI AGInorganics2304-67402025-06-0113619110.3390/inorganics13060191Kinetics-Controlled Simple Method for the Preparation of Au@Ag Hierarchical Superstructures for SERS AnalysisMengqi Lyu0Ming Jiang1Hanting Yu2Kailiang Wu3Peitao Zhu4Yingke Zhu5Yan Xia6Juan Li7Institute of Fire Safety Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, NingboTech University, Ningbo 315100, ChinaInstitute of Fire Safety Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, NingboTech University, Ningbo 315100, ChinaInstitute of Fire Safety Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, NingboTech University, Ningbo 315100, ChinaInstitute of Fire Safety Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, NingboTech University, Ningbo 315100, ChinaInstitute of Fire Safety Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, NingboTech University, Ningbo 315100, ChinaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USAInstitute of Fire Safety Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, NingboTech University, Ningbo 315100, ChinaInstitute of Fire Safety Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, NingboTech University, Ningbo 315100, ChinaSilver nanostructures exhibit exceptional surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance due to their strong plasmonic resonance. However, their practical applications are often hindered by structural instability, leading to deformation and performance degradation. In this study, we developed a kinetics-controlled synthetic strategy to fabricate gold-encapsulated silver (Au@Ag) hierarchical superstructures (HSs) with enhanced SERS activity and stability. By leveraging polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a surface modifier and precisely regulating the introduction rate of reaction precursors, we achieved meticulous control over the galvanic replacement kinetics, thereby preserving the structural integrity of pre-synthesized Ag HSs during the formation of Au@Ag HSs. The resulting well-defined Au@Ag HSs demonstrated superior SERS performance, achieving a detection limit of 10<sup>−9</sup> M for crystal violet (CV) while exhibiting outstanding signal reproducibility (relative standard deviation, RSD = 11.60%). This work provides a robust and scalable approach to designing stable, high-efficiency SERS-active nanostructures with broad potential in analytical and sensing applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6740/13/6/191kinetics-controlledgalvanic replacementAu@Aghierarchical superstructuresurface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy |
| spellingShingle | Mengqi Lyu Ming Jiang Hanting Yu Kailiang Wu Peitao Zhu Yingke Zhu Yan Xia Juan Li Kinetics-Controlled Simple Method for the Preparation of Au@Ag Hierarchical Superstructures for SERS Analysis Inorganics kinetics-controlled galvanic replacement Au@Ag hierarchical superstructure surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy |
| title | Kinetics-Controlled Simple Method for the Preparation of Au@Ag Hierarchical Superstructures for SERS Analysis |
| title_full | Kinetics-Controlled Simple Method for the Preparation of Au@Ag Hierarchical Superstructures for SERS Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Kinetics-Controlled Simple Method for the Preparation of Au@Ag Hierarchical Superstructures for SERS Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Kinetics-Controlled Simple Method for the Preparation of Au@Ag Hierarchical Superstructures for SERS Analysis |
| title_short | Kinetics-Controlled Simple Method for the Preparation of Au@Ag Hierarchical Superstructures for SERS Analysis |
| title_sort | kinetics controlled simple method for the preparation of au ag hierarchical superstructures for sers analysis |
| topic | kinetics-controlled galvanic replacement Au@Ag hierarchical superstructure surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6740/13/6/191 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mengqilyu kineticscontrolledsimplemethodforthepreparationofauaghierarchicalsuperstructuresforsersanalysis AT mingjiang kineticscontrolledsimplemethodforthepreparationofauaghierarchicalsuperstructuresforsersanalysis AT hantingyu kineticscontrolledsimplemethodforthepreparationofauaghierarchicalsuperstructuresforsersanalysis AT kailiangwu kineticscontrolledsimplemethodforthepreparationofauaghierarchicalsuperstructuresforsersanalysis AT peitaozhu kineticscontrolledsimplemethodforthepreparationofauaghierarchicalsuperstructuresforsersanalysis AT yingkezhu kineticscontrolledsimplemethodforthepreparationofauaghierarchicalsuperstructuresforsersanalysis AT yanxia kineticscontrolledsimplemethodforthepreparationofauaghierarchicalsuperstructuresforsersanalysis AT juanli kineticscontrolledsimplemethodforthepreparationofauaghierarchicalsuperstructuresforsersanalysis |