Iron Oxide–Gold Composite Nanoparticles and Nano-Gap Junctions …
273
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering studies show a three-time enhancement
response for composite gold–iron oxide nanoparticles when compared with gold
nanostructures. These enhancements were attributed to the creation of the “hot-spot”
junctions and nano-gaps obtained from: (a) multi-seed-mediated approach that generates larger decoration of iron oxide with gold plasmonic nanoparticles and (b) aggregated assemblies formed due to the key magnetic iron oxide nanostructures. Higher
enhancements responses are obtained for the gold–iron oxide in comparison with
the control analyte. However, for larger enhancement desired for surface-enhanced
scattering effects, more trials must be executed to procure the ideal parameters for
large-scale application.
Future work includes further analysis of the ideal concentrations of surfaceenhanced Raman scattering analyte coupled with nanoparticles as well as method
development for reproducible production of nano-gap junctions. Overall, this work
successfully synthesized and characterized composite nanostructures that proved to
have unique properties different from bulk. Applications of these particles for surfaceenhanced Raman scattering analyte detection require further work to conclusively
suggest that such particles reproducibly provide signal enhancement for fingerprint
recognition of trace elements in solution.
Acknowledgements We would like to thank the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship
(SULI) operated by the DOE-Office of Science and the Savannah River National Laboratory for
financial support. This work was supported by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development
(LDRD) program (LDRD-2015-00040) within the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL).
This document was prepared in conjunction with work accomplished under Contract No. DE-AC0908SR22470 with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management
(EM).
References
1. Mayo DW, Miller FA, Hannah RW (2003) Course notes on the interpretation of infrared and
raman spectra. Wiley-Interscience, John Wiley and Sons
2. Kawata S, Ichimura T, Taguchi A, Kumamoto Y (2017) Nano-Raman scattering microscopy:
resolution and enhancement. Chem Rev 117:4983–5001
3. Hunyadi Murph SE, Coopersmith K (2020) Fabrication of silver–rhodium nanomaterials for
chemical sensing applications. In: Srivatsan T, Gupta M (eds) Nanocomposites VI: nanoscience
and nanotechnology in advanced composites. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series.
Springer, Cham, pp 95–104
4. Hunyadi Murph SE, Larsen G, Coopersmith K (2017) Anisotropic and shape-selective nanomaterials: structure-property relationships, 1st Ed., Springer International Publishing, ISBN:
978-3-319-59661-7 (Print) 978-3-319-59662-4 (Online)
5. Hunyadi Murph SE, Murphy CJ (2013) Patchy silica-coated silver nanowires as SERS
substrates. J Nanopart Res 15:1607
6. Hunyadi SE, Murphy CJ (2006) Bimetallic silver-gold nanowires: fabrication and use in
surface- enhanced raman scattering. J Mater Chem Special Issue: Anisotropic Nanoparticles
16:3929–3935
273
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering studies show a three-time enhancement
response for composite gold–iron oxide nanoparticles when compared with gold
nanostructures. These enhancements were attributed to the creation of the “hot-spot”
junctions and nano-gaps obtained from: (a) multi-seed-mediated approach that generates larger decoration of iron oxide with gold plasmonic nanoparticles and (b) aggregated assemblies formed due to the key magnetic iron oxide nanostructures. Higher
enhancements responses are obtained for the gold–iron oxide in comparison with
the control analyte. However, for larger enhancement desired for surface-enhanced
scattering effects, more trials must be executed to procure the ideal parameters for
large-scale application.
Future work includes further analysis of the ideal concentrations of surfaceenhanced Raman scattering analyte coupled with nanoparticles as well as method
development for reproducible production of nano-gap junctions. Overall, this work
successfully synthesized and characterized composite nanostructures that proved to
have unique properties different from bulk. Applications of these particles for surfaceenhanced Raman scattering analyte detection require further work to conclusively
suggest that such particles reproducibly provide signal enhancement for fingerprint
recognition of trace elements in solution.
Acknowledgements We would like to thank the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship
(SULI) operated by the DOE-Office of Science and the Savannah River National Laboratory for
financial support. This work was supported by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development
(LDRD) program (LDRD-2015-00040) within the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL).
This document was prepared in conjunction with work accomplished under Contract No. DE-AC0908SR22470 with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management
(EM).
References
1. Mayo DW, Miller FA, Hannah RW (2003) Course notes on the interpretation of infrared and
raman spectra. Wiley-Interscience, John Wiley and Sons
2. Kawata S, Ichimura T, Taguchi A, Kumamoto Y (2017) Nano-Raman scattering microscopy:
resolution and enhancement. Chem Rev 117:4983–5001
3. Hunyadi Murph SE, Coopersmith K (2020) Fabrication of silver–rhodium nanomaterials for
chemical sensing applications. In: Srivatsan T, Gupta M (eds) Nanocomposites VI: nanoscience
and nanotechnology in advanced composites. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series.
Springer, Cham, pp 95–104
4. Hunyadi Murph SE, Larsen G, Coopersmith K (2017) Anisotropic and shape-selective nanomaterials: structure-property relationships, 1st Ed., Springer International Publishing, ISBN:
978-3-319-59661-7 (Print) 978-3-319-59662-4 (Online)
5. Hunyadi Murph SE, Murphy CJ (2013) Patchy silica-coated silver nanowires as SERS
substrates. J Nanopart Res 15:1607
6. Hunyadi SE, Murphy CJ (2006) Bimetallic silver-gold nanowires: fabrication and use in
surface- enhanced raman scattering. J Mater Chem Special Issue: Anisotropic Nanoparticles
16:3929–3935