Plasmon-active silver nanostructures in the pores of ion-track template of SiO2 on silicon

Today, the possibility of amplifying the signal of Raman scattering is intensively studied in order to realize a simple and reliable tool for monitoring of ultra-small concentrations of chemical and biological substances. Plasmon-active nanostructures can serve as the basic element of substrates for signal amplifying, and the degree of amplification is determined by nanostructures size and shape. The formation of nanostructures with a predetermined morphology requires the development of new approaches. In this concern, the paper considers a complex approach of plasmon-active silver nanostructures with a wide range of shapes and sizes formation in the pores of ion-track Sio₂ templates on silicon. The peculiarities of SiO₂ templates creation are considered and the etching rates, uniquely determining the parameters of the pores as a function of the etching time, are established. The features of the silver nanostructures formation in the pores of the SiO₂ template are described for various pore sizes and synthesis regimes (time and solution temperature). The possibility of formation of nanostructures with different shapes as well as evolution of their morphology with variation of synthesis parameters is shown. on the example of dendrites, having a high potential for practical application for amplification of the Raman scattering signal, the possibility of recording Raman spectra was demonstrated using the model analyzer Nile Blue at the concentration of 10^-6 M/l. The results indicate that plasmon-active silver nanostructures in the pores of ion-track Si0₂ template on silicon can be used as basic element of biosensors to studying ultra-low doses of chemical and biological substances.

Communicated by Corresponding Member Valery M. Fedosyuk

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