Adsorbed state of p-mercaptobenzoic acid on silver nanoparticles

To exploit a gap mode plasmon in flocculates of metal nanoparticles most efficiently, the interaction between adsorbed chemical species and metal nanostructures were adjusted. We successfully formed flocculates of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) using electrostatic interaction between dissociated p-mercaptobenzoic acid (PMBA), protonated p-aminothiophenol (PATP) and their counter ions (Mn+, Xm−), as well as van der Waals force between neutral PMBA, PATP and AgNPs. Detailed adsorbed state of PMBA and PATP in addition to trapped counter ions was characterized using enormous SERS enhancement in a flocculation method.