Molecular sensitivity and selectivity of metal nanoparticles decorated graphene as `smart' surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platforms.

POSTER

Abstract

Graphene-mediated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (G-SERS) is a recent phenomenon that produces clean and reproducible Raman signals of chemical molecules with significantly enhanced intensity. Since G-SERS relies on a chemical mechanism and therefore it shows molecular sensitivity and selectivity. We developed graphene-family nanomaterials, GFNs, decorated with coinage silver and gold nanoparticles for detection of methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) probes in view of optical and biological importance. The results illustrate that silver and gold nanoparticles immobilized on GFNs enhanced the Raman signal, in general, and as cascaded amplification of on multilayer architecture, larger than those on the metal nanoparticles without graphene. Additionally, the sensitivity can be tuned by controlling the size of nanoparticles. Moreover, highly-sensitive graphene-nanoparticle sensors are capable of molecular detection over 10 pM to 100 microM concentration. The G-SERS enhancement is discussed in terms of graphene-metal nanoparticle interactions leading to local interfacial hybridization and polarization, 2. molecular conformation of analyte on nanoparticle-graphene functionalities, and 3. charge transfer and exchange or sharing of charges between analyte and nanoparticles decorated graphene supports, experiencing chemical enhancement. Optimized metal nanoparticle-graphene electronic properties are determined from density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Authors

  • Sanju Gupta

    Western kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Western Kentucky University

  • S.S. Gupta

    Department of Applied Mathematics & Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAE, Physics Department, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006, USA, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Nangal Road, Rupnagar (Ropar), Punjab 140 001, India, The Institute for Nuclear Research, Moscow, Davidson Coll, Western kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Naval Postgraduate School, Austin Peay State University, Univ of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Nebraska, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, University of West Georgia, Department of Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Northwestern Univ, Univ of Virginia, Western Kentucky University, Physics Dept. Bowling Green, KY, Department of Physics, The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, TX 78539, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Western Kentucky University, School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom, Austin Peay State Univ, University of Pardubice, Clemson University, Appalachian State Univ, Department of Physics, University of West Georgia, Department of Geosciences, University of West Georgia, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Francis Marion University, The Pennsylvania State University, Auburn University, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Department of Physics, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho, Department of Physics,North Carolina State University, William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology, MSTD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Univ of Bristol, University of Alabama in Birmingham, Georgia Institute of Technology, Sandia National Laboratories, University of South Florida

  • S.S. Gupta

    Department of Applied Mathematics & Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAE, Physics Department, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006, USA, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Nangal Road, Rupnagar (Ropar), Punjab 140 001, India, The Institute for Nuclear Research, Moscow, Davidson Coll, Western kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Naval Postgraduate School, Austin Peay State University, Univ of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Nebraska, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, University of West Georgia, Department of Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Northwestern Univ, Univ of Virginia, Western Kentucky University, Physics Dept. Bowling Green, KY, Department of Physics, The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, TX 78539, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Western Kentucky University, School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom, Austin Peay State Univ, University of Pardubice, Clemson University, Appalachian State Univ, Department of Physics, University of West Georgia, Department of Geosciences, University of West Georgia, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Francis Marion University, The Pennsylvania State University, Auburn University, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Department of Physics, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho, Department of Physics,North Carolina State University, William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology, MSTD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Univ of Bristol, University of Alabama in Birmingham, Georgia Institute of Technology, Sandia National Laboratories, University of South Florida