| The controllable synthesis and fabrication of nanostructures and nanomaterials remains very important and challenging due to numerous factors that influence their size and shape. Several factors such as amount and nature of precursor need to be controlled in a precise manner in order to obtain the desired product. In this work silver nanowires (Ag NW) and nanoparticles (Ag NP) are synthesized using the solvothermal and single-step reduction reaction, respectively. The substrates were prepared by casting or spin coating known volumes of Ag NW/NP suspension on clean glass slides. The glass slides were then dried and characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Ultra-Violet visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and Raman microscopy. The Raman microscopic studies indicate high enhancement of signals such that it was possible to detect melamine up to 10 ppb levels. The AFM and TEM studies do confirm the surface morphology of substrates as well as the diameter and size distribution of Ag NW/NP. Our results indicate that we can obtain uniform Ag NW/NP that can be used to fabricate surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates with high sensitivity for detection of melamine. |
