Abstract
The controlled growth of Ag nanoparticles into graphene–TiO2 mesoporous films has been triggered by hard X-ray exposure provided by a synchrotron storage ring. The kinetic process has been studied by UV–visible spectroscopy as a function of the X-ray dose and compared to the nanoparticle growth induced in a bare mesoporous titania matrix. The graphene layers act as a preferential nucleation sites, allowing a faster nucleation of the nanoparticles. Moreover, the growth of larger nanoparticles is also promoted as a function of the exposure dose. The combined bottom-up and top-down approach to fabricate nanocomposites porous films embedding both graphene and plasmonic nanoparticles is expected to be a fundamental tool for the design of new analytical platforms based on the enhancement of the Raman signals.
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The authors acknowledge the CERIC-ERIC consortium for the access to experimental facilities and financial support. Alberto Mariani is gratefully acknowledged for providing the EG colloidal suspensions. Maria F. Casula is also acknowledged for TEM characterization.
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Malfatti, L., Carboni, D., Pinna, A. et al. In situ growth of Ag nanoparticles in graphene–TiO2 mesoporous films induced by hard X-ray. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 79, 295–302 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-016-4052-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-016-4052-x