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Plasmonics and SERS activity of post-transition metal nanoparticles

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Abstract

Nanoparticles of the post-transition metals, In, Sn, Pb, and Bi, and of the metalloid Sb were produced by laser ablation synthesis in solution (LASiS) and tested for localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis optical absorption, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Several organic and biological molecules were tested, and SERS activity was demonstrated for all tested nanoparticles and molecules. The Raman enhancement factor for each nanoparticle class and molecule was experimentally determined. The search for new plasmonic nanostructures is important mainly for life sciences-related applications and this study expands the range of SERS active systems.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Conselho de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—CNPq, a Brazilian agency, for the support, and Centro de Microscopia Eletrônica da UFPR for the use of the TEM and the confocal Raman microscopes. We are grateful to Hospital Pequeno Príncipe for the donation of a sample of morphine sulfate for this study.

Funding

This study was funded partially with scholarships by Conselho de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—CNPq.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento Acadêmico de Física, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Av. Sete de Setembro 3165, Centro, Curitiba, Paraná, 80230-010, Brazil

    A. G. Bezerra Jr., T. N. Machado & J. A. Lenz

  2. Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Av. Silva Jardim 1632, Água Verde, Curitiba, Paraná, 80250-200, Brazil

    T. D. Woiski

  3. Laboratório de Polímeros Paulo Scarpa, Universidade Federal do Paraná, CP 19081, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil

    D. A. Turchetti

  4. Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13566-590, Brazil

    D. A. Turchetti

  5. Pós-Graduação em Materiais, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico, Jardim das Américas, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil

    L. Akcelrud & W. H. Schreiner

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  1. A. G. Bezerra Jr.
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Bezerra, A.G., Machado, T.N., Woiski, T.D. et al. Plasmonics and SERS activity of post-transition metal nanoparticles. J Nanopart Res 20, 142 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-018-4249-8

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