Triangular Au-Ag framework nanostructures prepared by multi-stage replacement and their spectral properties

Triangular Au-Ag framework nanostructures (TFN) were synthesized via a multi-step galvanic replacement reaction (MGRR) of single-crystalline triangular silver nanoplates in a chlorauric acid (HAuCl4) solution at room temperature. The morphological, compositional, and crystal structural changes involved with reaction steps were analyzed by using transmission electron microscopy(TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), and X-ray diffraction. TEM combined with EDX and selected area electron diffraction confirmed the replacement of Ag with Au. The in-plane dipolar surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption band of the Ag nanoplates locating initially at around 700 nm gradually redshifted to 1 100 nm via a multi-stage replacement manner after 7 stages. The adding amount of HAuCl4 per stage influenced the average redshift value per stage, thus enabled a fine tuning of the in-plane dipolar band. A proposed formation mechanism of the original Ag nanoplates developing pores while growing Au nanoparticles covering this underlying structure at more reaction steps was confirmed by exploiting surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).