Journal of Crystal Growth, Vol.400, 21-26, 2014
Silver nanostructures formation in porous Si/SiO2 matrix
Self-organized silver nanostructures were grown in porous Si/SiO2 matrix fabricated by ion track technology. The different silver nanostructures with shapes like "sunflowers", "azalea" or "corn" were realized by applying wet-chemical electroless deposition. We show that reproducible self-organized silver "sunflower" like nanostructures provide a high enhanced Raman signal of Nile blue dye molecules. Signal enhancement for a few or even just a single silver "sunflower" is demonstrated by analyzing the surface-enhanced Raman signature of Nile blue dye molecules. According to this, the silver nanostructures can act as efficient surfaces for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy as well as (bio)-sensor applications. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.