Facile synthesis of Ni/Au, Ni/Ag hybrid magnetic nanoparticles: New active substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering

Ni/Au and Ni/Ag hybrid magnetic nanoparticles have been prepared via a facile solution growth method, in which 1-hexadecylamine is used and can function as both reducing agent and stabilizer during the synthetic process. By reduction of Au3+ or Ag+ in the reaction system, the reduced Au or Ag nanoparticles can adhere on the surface of Ni nanoparticles to form uniform hybrid structures after Ni nanoparticles were formed. From the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum of rhodamine 6G that obtained on the Ni/Au, Ni/Ag nanoparticles modified substrates; it is believed that the as-synthesized Ni/Au and Ni/Ag hybrid magnetic nanoparticles have great potential for high sensitive optical detection application.

Graphical abstractNearly monodispersed Ni/Au and Ni/Ag nanoparticles were prepared by a facile organic solution growth method. The as-synthesized hybrid magnetic Ni/Au and Ni/Ag nanoparticles exhibited good SERS activity.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Uniform Ni/Au and Ni/Ag hybrid magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized. ► 1-Hexadecylamine was used as reducing agent and stabilizer in the synthetic process. ► The Ni core can induce the reduction of Au3+, Ag+ on its surface. ► The as-synthesized hybrid magnetic nanoparticles could be used as SERS substrates. ► The magnetism of as-synthesized samples plays an important role in SERS detection.