Fabrication of Three-Dimensional ZnO: Ga@ITO@Ag SERS-Active Substrate for Sensitive and Repeatable Detectability

Abstract

Vertically aligned ZnO: Ga nanotowers can be directly synthesized on a glass substrate with a ZnO seed film via the chemical bath method. A novel heterostructure of ZnO: Ga@ITO@Ag nanotowers was subsequently deposited in the ITO layer and Ag nanoparticles via the facile two-step ion-sputtering processes on the ZnO: Ga nanotowers. The appropriate ion-sputtering times of the ITO layer and Ag nanoparticles can benefit the fabrication of ZnO: Ga@ITO@Ag nanotowers with higher surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement in detecting rhodamine 6G (R6G) molecules. Compared with ZnO: Ga@Ag nanotowers, ZnO: Ga@ITO@Ag nanotowers exhibited a high SERS enhancement factor of 2.25 × 108 and a lower detection limit (10−14 M) for detecting R6G molecules. In addition, the ITO layer used as an intermediate layer between ZnO: Ga nanotowers and Ag nanoparticles can improve SERS enhancement, sensitivity, uniformity, reusability, detection limit, and stability for detecting amoxicillin molecules. This phenomenon shall be ascribed to the ITO layer exhibiting a synergistic Raman enhancement effect through interfacial charge transfer for enhancing SERS activity. As a result, ZnO: Ga@ITO@Ag nanotowers can construct a three-dimensional SERS substrate for potential applications in environmentally friendly and cost-effective chemical or drug detection.

Na2Ti3O7@RF@Ag Heterostructures as Efficient Substrates for SERS and Photocatalytic Applications

“…SERS activity is intricately linked to the morphology, size, and density of Au and Ag nanoparticles, which collectively govern the efficiency and performance of SERS measurements [ 60 , 61 ]. This investigation assessed the SERS performance of the Na 2 Ti 3 O 7 @RF@Ag heterostructures synthesized under various reaction conditions, using RhB as the target molecule.…”

“…The Na 2 Ti 3 O 7 @RF@Ag heterostructures (0.15 mL AgNO 3 and 3 mL L-ascorbic acid) are 2.18 and 3.78 times higher than the Na 2 Ti 3 O 7 @RF@Ag heterostructures (0.15 mL of AgNO 3 ) and Na 2 Ti 3 O 7 @RF@Ag heterostructures (Ag-ionsputtering time of 90 s), respectively. SERS activity is intricately linked to the morphology, size, and density of Au and Ag nanoparticles, which collectively govern the efficiency and performance of SERS measurements [60,61]. This investigation assessed the SERS performance of the Na2Ti3O7@RF@Ag heterostructures synthesized under various reaction conditions, using RhB as the target molecule.…”

High performance and recyclable Ag/ZnO/PM substrate for the detection of organic pollutants

“…This substrate exhibits excellent enhancement factors. 24 Similarly, Chen et al synthesized a powder substrate of zinc oxide nanorods coated with Ag particles, which also exhibited high enhancement factors and photocatalytic performance. 25 However, most of these substrates are rigid or powder substrates, which were prone to agglomeration and limited by the applied places.…”