High Raman Enhancing Shape-Tunable Ag Nanoplates in Alumina: A Reliable and Efficient SERS Technique

Shape-tunable Ag nanoplates in alumina enable very strong SERS performances showing Raman enhancement factor >1 × 10⁹, and allows for easy detection of analyte methylene blue having a concentration in the picomolar range. Raman enhancements have been systematically studied during the Ag nanoparticle-shape evolution from spherical nanoparticles to hexagonal nanoplates with sharp corners to truncated triangular nanoplates in alumina sol. Large SERS enhancement has been observed because of the uniform dispersion and embedment of Ag nanoplates in a relatively high dielectric alumina network where analyte molecules are held. This new approach gives uniform and strong SERS signal with reproducibility.