SERS study of molecules on Ag nanocluster films deposited on glass and silicon substrates by cluster deposition method

Ag nanoclusters were deposited on glass as well as p-type Si(1 0 0) wafers using a nanocluster deposition system and subsequently annealed at 300 °C for 2 h to achieve desirable cluster sizes which tune the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for SERS studies. The surface morphology of these substrates was examined through FESEM images. The SERS studies were carried out on these substrates with 100 μM and 1 μM Crystal Violet (CV) as a test molecule using 514.5 and 632.8 nm as excitation wavelengths. The dependence of SERS enhancement on the nature of the substrate, shape, size and inter particle distance of Ag nanoclusters is briefly discussed. The experimental findings suggest that the SERS enhancement is higher on glass substrate compared to p-type Si(1 0 0) substrate. The substrates investigated in this study were highly reproducible, repeatable and stable.

► The cluster deposition system was employed for preparation of Ag nanoclusters.
► SERS signal enhancement was compared on both the glass and silicon substrates.
► One order of magnitude SERS enhancement was observed on glass as compared to Si.
► High reproducible SERS measurements were observed with the cluster deposited films.