Multi-mode enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy using aggregation-free hybrid metal/metal-oxide nanoparticles with intrinsic oxygen vacancies

Davison, G., Yin, Y., Jones, T., Parkin, I. P., Peveler, W. J. and Lee, T.-C. (2023) Multi-mode enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy using aggregation-free hybrid metal/metal-oxide nanoparticles with intrinsic oxygen vacancies. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 11(9), pp. 3334-3341. (doi: 10.1039/D2TC05069B)

Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy, with strong and stable signals, was achieved in aqueous solution using colloidal hybrid nanoparticles, consisting of gold nanotriangles (Au NTs) with a nanoscale coating of tin dioxide (SnO2). The observed strong SERS signals can be attributed to an electromagnetic enhancement from the anisotropic Au NTs, and chemical enhancement resulted from the photo-induced charge transfer from SnO2 to Au NTs. The latter was enabled by the presence of persistent inter-band levels introduced by the intrinsic oxygen vacancies in SnO2, as well as by the nanoscale mixing of the two components. Moreover, the intrinsic oxygen vacancies in highly defected SnO2 nanostructures and the aggregation-free approach underpin the high stability of SERS signals. The multi-mode enhanced Raman signal could be further boosted by in situ UV-irradiation and, as a proof-of-concept application, detection of an explosive marker 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) was demonstrated in aqueous solution, achieving a detection limit down to 6 nM (1 μg mL−1) with a significant signal enhancement of 22 times over and above the SERS signals of bare Au NTs.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: TCL is grateful to the Research Project Grant (RPG-2016-393) funded by the Leverhulme Trust. WJP thanks the University of Glasgow for a Lord Kelvin Adam Smith Fellowship and the Royal Society for a Research Grant (RGS\R2\192190). GD and TJ would like to thank the EPSRC M3S CDT (EP/L015862/1) for sponsoring their studentship. TJ and TCL acknowledge Camtech Innovations for contribution to TJ’s studentship.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Peveler, Dr William
• Authors: Davison, G., Yin, Y., Jones, T., Parkin, I. P., Peveler, W. J., and Lee, T.-C.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Journal of Materials Chemistry C
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• ISSN: 2050-7526
• ISSN (Online): 2050-7534
• Published Online: 15 February 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Royal Society of Chemistry
• First Published: First published in Journal of Materials Chemistry C 11(9): 3334-3341
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
307898		Switchable nanoparticle assemblies for photonic sensing	William Peveler	The Royal Society (ROYSOC)	RGS\R2\192190	Chemistry