Reduced graphene oxide/Ag nanoparticles hybrids (rGO/AgNPs) were fabricated via a green and facile hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized materials were characterized in detail using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Under a suitable dosage of silver ions, well-dispersed AgNPs on the reduced graphene oxide sheets were obtained. The surface plasmon resonance properties of AgNPs on graphene show that there is an interaction between AgNPs and graphene. Trace detection of organic dyes is studied based on rGO/AgNPs hybrids as efficient surface enhanced Raman scattering platforms. It has been found that the suitable experiment parameter is crucial to trace detection of organic dyes molecules. This work is of importance in the practical application in device-design based on the SERS effect of noble metal/reduced oxide graphene (or oxide graphene) hybrids. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.