Square-wave electrochemical growth of lying three-dimensional silver dendrites with high surface-enhanced Raman scattering activities

In the present paper, large-area, homogeneously distributed lying dendritic silver nanostructures were prepared on a Pt film substrate using a square-wave electrodeposition technique without any additive. Individual dendrites were found to lie on the substrate and have a three-dimensional structure. The number density increases with electrolyte concentration (C) and loose films composed of overlapping dendrites were obtained at high C. The square-wave potential and its frequency determine the formation of the dendritic structure. The Ag dendrites exhibit high surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity towards rhodamine B. The SERS activity of the dendrites is comparable to that of Ag films consisting of overlapping dendrites. It is much higher than that of Ag nanoparticles (NPs), and even higher than that of NPs’ aggregates.

Large-area, homogeneously distributed lying dendritic silver nanostructures were prepared on a Pt film substrate using a square-wave electrodeposition technique without any additive. The Ag dendrites exhibit a high SERS activity towards rhodamine B. A schematic sketch is shown for illustration of square-wave electrochemical growth process of the lying three-dimensional silver dendrites.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Lying three-dimensional silver dendrites were prepared by electrodeposition.
► The square-wave potential and its frequency determines the formation of the dendritic structure.
► The Ag dendrites exhibit high surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity towards rhodamine B, and the SERS activity is much higher than that of Ag nanoparticles (NPs), and even higher than that of NPs’ aggregates.