Laser-induced surface plasmon resonance and SERS performance of AgCuAl medium entropy alloy films

AgCuAl films were deposited on glass substrates using a sputtering system. The films were dewetted using a continuous wave (CW) laser with a wavelength of 1070 nm and various settings of the laser power, duty cycle, and speed, respectively. The results showed that nanoparticles were produced for accumulated energies in the range of 0.1 - 2.2 kJ/mm3. At lower unit volume energies (0.1 - 1.3 kJ/mm3), the particles had a size of around 120 - 130 nm. However, as the accumulated energy increased to 1.7 kJ/mm3, the particle size reduced to 95 nm. The AgCuAl films produced using a duty cycle of 30 % showed an optical absorption peak wavelength in the range of 600 - 620 nm. Moreover, a blue shift was observed as the laser power increased as a result of the smaller particle size. AgCuAl nanoparticles (NPs) show a strong Raman scattering effect at 680 cm-1 in the presence of melamine solution. Hence, the feasibility of detecting melamine via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy was confirmed.

Automated summary

AgCuAl films were deposited on glass substrates using a sputtering system and dewetted using a CW laser. The size of nanoparticles produced varied based on the accumulated energy and decreased with increasing energy. AgCuAl films with a duty cycle of 30% showed an optical absorption peak wavelength in the range of 600-620 nm. The presence of melamine solution allowed for the detection of melamine using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy with AgCuAl nanoparticles.