Effect of TiO2 arrays on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance for Ag/TiO2 substrates

Ag/TiO2 nanostructure arrays were constructed on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) via a controllable hydrothermal route and a magnetron sputtering method with a variety of TiO2 arrays decorated by Ag nanoparticles. Effects of different TiO2 arrays on the microstructure, composition, and optical properties of the samples were revealed. As surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrates, we discussed the sensitivity and reproducibility of Ag/TiO2 nanostructure arrays for Rhodamine 6G (R6G) molecule detection. It was found that TiO2 nanosheet (TiO2(S)) array as a supporting made Ag nanoparticles have a uniform and continuous distribution, which achieved much higher SERS signals. The obtained Ag/TiO2(S) substrate had an improved enhancement factor of 4.31 x 10(5) compared with the other Ag/TiO2 nanostructure arrays of nanorods, nanotubes, and nanotrees. Furthermore, Ag/TiO2(S) active substrate showed good reproducibility with low relative standard deviation values. Such a remarkable SERS activity could be due to the synergistic effect of electromagnetic enhancement and charge transfer enhancement. Moreover, the TiO2(S) array with high-exposed {101} facets provided a large adhesion area and generated a strong interaction with external atoms, which would produce high-density 'hot spots' of SERS.

Automated summary

It was found that TiO2 nanosheet array as a supporting substrate can lead to a uniform distribution of Ag nanoparticles and enhance the SERS signals, resulting in better detection performance. Compared with other nanostructures, the Ag/TiO2(S) array exhibited a higher enhancement factor and good reproducibility.