Preparation of SERS substrate using self-assembled nanoporous polymer

SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) is a spectroscopic technique. Weak Raman signal is enhanced many folds using noble metal nanoparticles or a roughened noble metal surface. Thus SERS is an improvement on Raman spectroscopy providing enough sensitivity for the tool to detect a single molecule. The widespread use of SERS is hindered due to the lack of highly reproducible substrates.; In this research, silver nanoparticles were prepared using templating technique. The use of PS-PFEMS diblock copolymer as a template to prepare silver nanoparticles for SERS was investigated. Nanoislands of silver were prepared on silicon covered with thermal oxide using the polymer template. lambda-DNA was also used as a template to synthesize silver nanoparticles on mica. The effectiveness of these samples for SERS was determined using nicotine. The characteristic peak of nicotine around 1030 cm-1 was obtained with these samples for 1 ppt nicotine solution.