Fabrication of copper nanoparticles/graphene oxide composites for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Cu/graphene oxide composites were synthesized by a facile and effective chemical reduction method. The resulting Cu/graphene oxide(GO) composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The performance of the Cu/GO composites as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrate was evaluated via using 4-aminothiophenol (4-ABT) as the probe molecule. Compared with 4-ABT on Cu nanoparticles film, the SERS signal of 4-ABT was obviously improved on the Cu/GO composites. The determination of 4-ABT in aqueous solution with SERS method at the Cu/GO composite displayed a line range from 10(-8) to 10(-4) M. The present methodology demonstrates that the composite film composed of Cu, GO is potential for optical chemical sensor applications. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.