Electroless deposition of silver onto silicon as a method of preparation of reproducible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy tips.

A simple method for the production of silver nanoparticles on a silicon substrate that is suitable for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is presented. The method is based on spontaneous reduction of Ag(+) ions by elemental silicon. The oxide layer is removed from the surface of a silicon disk by etching with dilute HF that is present in the same dilute solution of silver nitrate that is used to form the silver nanoparticles.

Nanostructural silver and gold substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy measurements prepared by galvanic displacement on germanium disks.

A germanium disk on which silver nanoparticles have been deposited by galvanic displacement is shown to be an inexpensive substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The preparation, which is based on spontaneous reduction of silver cations at the surface of a germanium disk, is quick and requires nothing more than a Petri dish. The SERS enhancement of silver and gold substrates prepared in this way was measured using benzenethiol and was compared to enhancement of Klarite, a commercially available gold-coated nanoengineered SERS substrate.