Surface-enhanced Raman scattering from magneto-metal nanoparticle assemblies.

Binary nanoparticles composed of a superparamagnetic Fe(3)O(4) core and an Au nanoshell (Fe(3)O(4)@Au) were prepared via a simple co-precipitation method followed by seed-mediated growth process. The nanoparticles exhibited functions of both fast magnetic response and local surface plasmon resonance. The Fe(3)O(4)@Au nanoparticles were used as probes for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) using p-thiocresol (p-TC) as reporter molecule.