Fabrication, characterization, and application in surface-enhanced Raman spectrum of assembled type-I collagen-silver nanoparticle multilayered films

In this paper, we report a facile method for the fabrication of type-I collagen-silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) multilayered films by utilizing type-I collagen as a medium. These samples were characterized by UV-vis spectra photometer, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform IR spectrum. Experimental results show that collagen molecules serve as effective templates to assemble Ag NPs into multilayer films. These samples exhibit high surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement abilities.

EDTA-controlled one-pot preparation of novel shaped gold microcrystals and their application in surface-enhanced Raman scattering

We report a one-pot preparation method for a series of novel shaped gold microcrystals by simply mixing HAuCl4 with disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na(2)EDTA). Under the different reaction temperatures, spinous structures, multipod microspheres, and rough surfaced microspheres were obtained. These microcrystals exhibit high surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity.

Electrochemical deposition of silver in room-temperature ionic liquids and its surface-enhanced Raman scattering effect

The use of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as media for electrochemical application is very attractive. In this work, the electrochemical deposition of silver was investigated at a glassy carbon electrode in hydrophobic 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF6) and hydrophilic 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF4) RTILs and in KNO3 aqueous solution by cyclic voltammetric and potentiostatic transient techniques. The voltammograms showed the presence of reduction and oxidation peaks associated with the deposition and dissolution of silver from AgBF4 in both BMIMPF6 and BMIMBF4, resembling the redox behavior of AgNO3 in KNO3 aqueous solution. A crossover loop was observed in all the cyclic voltammograms of these electrochemical systems, indicating a nucleation process. From the analysis of the experimental current transients, it was shown that the electrochemical deposition process of silver in these media was characteristic of 3D nucleation with diffusion-controlled hemispherical growth, and the silver nucleation closely followed the response predicted for progressive nucleation in BMIMPF6 and instantaneous nucleation in KNO3 aqueous solution, respectively.

Optical spectroscopy properties of KMgF3 : Eu2+ nanocrystals and powder synthesized by microemulsion and solvothermal process

Nanocrystals and powders of KMgF3 doped with Eu2+ were synthesized by the microemulsion method and the solvothermal process, respectively. The emission and excitation spectra of KMgF3:Eu2+ phosphors were measured and compared with those of the samples synthesized through a solid. state reaction, Bridgman-Stockbarger method, and mild hydrothermal technique. The KMgF3: Eu2+ samples synthesized by means of the microemulsion method and the solvothermal process show only a sharp emission peak located at 360 nm, in the emission spectra, which arises from the f -> f(P-6(1/2)-> S-8(1/2)) transition of Eu2+. The broad emission bands appear at 420 nm,,which arises from Eu2+ <- O2- cannot be observed(in the mild hydrothermal and single crystal samples, the emission peak at 420 nm besides the emission of Eu2+ at 360 nm is observed). In the excitation spectrum of the KMgF3: Eu2+ samples synthesized by the microemulsion method and the solvothermal process, the excitation peaks show an intensive blue shift. The blue shift can he attributed to the lower oxygenic content in the KMgF3: Eu2+ samples synthesized by the microemulsion method and the solvothermal process.

Probing UPD-induced surface atomic rearrangement of polycrystalline gold nanofilms with surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry

Silver underpotential deposition (UPD)-induced surface atomic rearrangement of polycrystalline gold nanofilms was probed with use of surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPRs) as a novel probe tool in combination with cyclic voltammetry. Interestingly, upon repetitive electrochemical UPD and stripping of Ag, the surface structure of the resulting bare Au film is rearranged due to strong adatom-substrate interactions, which causes a large angle shift of SPR R-theta curves, in a good linear relationship with the number of UPDs, to a lower SPR angle. The n, K values of the surfacial Au monolayers before and after the repetitive Ag UPD and stripping for 27 times are found to be 0.133, 3.60 and 0.565, 9.39, respectively, corresponding to the huge shift of 1.61degrees to the left of the SPR minima. Cyclic voltammetry experiments in 0.10 M H2SO4 are carried out before and after the UPD treatment to examine the quality of the whole electrode surface and confirmed this change. To correlate the angle change in SPRs with the profile change in the cyclic voltammogram, the UPD treatment was also performed on a Au(111) textured thin film. It was therefore confirmed that the resonance position of the SPR spectrum is very sensitive to the surface crystallographic orientation of the bare Au substrates. Some surface atomic rearrangement can cause a pronounced SPR angle shift.

Aggregation-based fabrication and assembly of roughened composite metallic nanoshells: Application in surface-enhanced Raman scattering

This paper reports an aggregation-based method for the fabrication of composite Au/Ag nanoshells with tunable thickness and surface roughness. It is found that the resultant roughened composite Au/Ag nanoshells can attract each other spontaneously to form films at the air-water interface. Importantly, such films can be transferred onto the solid substrates without being destroyed and show excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement ability. Their strong enhancement ability may stem from the unique two-dimensional structure itself.

Synthesis of the complex fluoride LiBaF3 and optical spectroscopy properties of LiBaF3 : M(M = Eu,Ce) through a solvothermal process

The complex fluoride LiBaF3 and LiBaF3:M(M = Eu, Ce) is solvothermally synthesized at 180 degreesC and characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy. In the solvothermal process, the solvents, molar ratios of initial mixtures and reaction temperature play important roles in the formation of products. The excitation and emission spectra of the LiBaF3:M(M= Eu,Ce) have been measured by fluorescence spectrophotometer. In the LiBaF3: Eu emission spectra, there is one sharp line emission located at 360 nm arising from f --> f transition of Eu2+ in the host lattice, and typical doublet 5d-4f emission of Ce3+ in LiBaF3 powder is shown.

Optical spectroscopy properties and charge compensation of BaLiF3 doped with Ce3+

The excitation and emission spectra of the BaLiF3:Ce3+ phosphors synthesized through solid state reaction have been measured. By investigating the properties of the excitation spectra we point out that the variation in the excitation spectra with the amount of CeF3 dopant results from the different patterns of charge compensation in the matrices. The vacancies of Li+ ions are the favorable charge compensation pattern at low concentration of CeF3 doped, but interstitial F- ions are the major charge compensation pattern when the concentration of CeF3 doped goes beyond a certain value. (C) 2000 Academic Press