Direct solution synthesis of Pd nanowire networks and their application in surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Highly branched Pd 2D nanowire networks are prepared by a template- and surfactant-free method in an ethylene glycol (EG)-dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) mixture under mild conditions. Pd nanowire networks with lengths ranging from hundreds of nanometers to several micrometers and branches with uniform diameters of similar to 8 nm are grown. The most likely formation mechanism is also proposed. The as-produced Pd nanowire networks exhibit high surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity for 4-mercaptopyridine probe molecules with 5.0 x 10(-8) M concentration.