Fabrication of copper nanowires by a solid-state ionics method and their surface enhanced Raman scattering effect

Copper nanowires were prepared by a solid-state ionics method using fast ionic conductor Rb4Cu16Cl13I7 films under a direct current electric field (DCEF). The surface morphology of the copper nanowires was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Rhodamine 6G (R6G) aqueous solutions were used as probe molecules to detect the Raman enhancement performance of the copper nanowires substrates. We found that the long-range disorder and short-range order copper nanowires were prepared by a solid-state ionics method. The diameters of nanowires ranged from 50 to 100 nm and the nanowires were bamboo-shaped. The limiting concentrations of R6G for the prepared copper nanowires SERS substrates is 10−11 mol/L.

► Copper nanowires were prepared by a solid-state ionics method using fast ionic conductor.
► The limiting concentration of R6G for the copper nanowires substrates was found to be 10−11 mol/L.
► The copper nanowires can significantly improve the detection sensitivity of Raman spectroscopy.
► The research has important significance for trace analysis in chemistry, biology and medicine.