The preparation of silver nanowires and the study of SERS activity of single nanowire

In this report, the polyol process was used for preparing silver nanowires. In this improved method, the silver nanowires with high purity, high yield and high sensitive surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity were synthesized mainly by sealed heating. Then the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Its optical absorption properties were measured by UV-Vis spectrophotometer; furthermore, SERS spectra of R6G molecule on the single nanowire was obtained and systematically studied by excitation wavelength 532nm. Our experimental results showed that the length of nanowires by our improved method is uniform and has high yield, high purity and higher SERS enhancement effect. The UV-Vis absorption spectrum of the samples displayed the transverse and longitudinal plasma resonance (SPR) absorption bands of silver nanowires which are located at 358nm and 416nm, respectively. Also single nanowire SERS activities which are dependent on the different substrates were researched.