Metal-coated magnetic nanoparticles for surface enhanced Raman scattering studies

Abstract

We report the optimization and usage of surfactantless, water dispersible Ag and Au-coated gamma-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles for applications in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). These nanoparticles, with plasmonic as well as super paramagnetic properties exhibit Raman enhancement factors of the order of 10(6) (10(5)) for Ag (Au) coating, which are on par with the conventional Ag and Au nanoparticles. Raman markers like 2-naphthalenethiol, rhodamine-B and rhodamine-6G have been adsorbed to these nanoparticles and tested for nonresonant SERS at low concentrations. Further, to confirm the robustness of Ag-coated nanoparticles, we have performed temperature-dependent SERS in the temperature range of 77-473 K. The adsorbed molecules exhibit stable SERS spectra except at temperatures >323 K, where the thermal desorption of test molecule (naphthalenethiol) were evident. The magnetic properties of these nanoparticles combined with SERS provide a wide range of applications.