Facile shape-controlled synthesis of palladium nanostructures on copper for promising Surface-enhanced Raman scattering

In this letter, size-controlled Pd nanocubes, hexagonal prism and Pd dendrites nanostructures were synthesized by a simple galvanic displacement process between Pd ion and Cu. The sizes and morphology of Pd nanostructures could be controlled by simply regulating the reaction parameters, such as concentration of palladium dichloride, reaction time and types of surfactant. A possible formation mechanism of Pd nanocubes was also briefly discussed. Furtherly, Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) investigation demonstrated the nanostructures on copper foils were SERS-active by using 4-aminothiophenol (PATP) as probe molecule. We believe the unique Pd nanostructures on copper foils would be a flexible and promising SERS substrate. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.