SERS of dye film deposited onto gold nano-clusters

Abstract

Gold nanoclusters were obtained by co-deposition of and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in vacuum with various gold concentrations. The films deposited were undergone to heating at various temperatures in air. Transformation of ensemble morphology after heating was studied using atomic force microscope (AFM). Raman scattering spectra of an ultra-thin film of Rhodamine 6G deposited onto substrates with gold nano-clusters of different morphology were recorded. The best substrate gave strong amplification of the Raman scattering signal from Rhodamine 6G film. Therefore, produced Au nano-clusters are suitable for surface enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy of nano-quantities of material.