The goal of this research was to develop optimal nickel, silver, gold, and copper nanostructures for applications in surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRA) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).  Metal nanostructures (MNS) of varying dimensions were formed by oblique angle deposition (OAD) through metal evaporation in vacuum onto CaF2 substrates at grazing angles ranging from 750 to 800. These MNS were characterized with AFM, SEM, and UV/Vis-NIR spectroscopy.  As a result of OAD, nickel tended to form elongated metal nanostructures at intermediate metal exposures.  On the other hand, OAD deposition of silver, gold, and copper resulted in smaller more uniformly sized and spaced MNS.  A monolayer of p-nitrobenzoate ion was deposited onto the MNS to determine the degree of vibrational enhancement in SEIRA.  Silver, gold, and copper MNS formed via OAD showed SEIRA enhancement factors up to x5 better than MNS grown at incident. We have observed SEIRA enhancement factors of close to x200 for silver MNS and enhancement factors of around x100 and x50 for gold and copper MNS, respectively. Elongated Ni nanostructures had SEIRA enhancement factors up to x20.  This work will influence a range of biological, medical, catalytic, environmental, and nanotechnological applications.

Ni, Ag, Au, and Cu nanostructures formed by oblique angle deposition

247th National Meeting (2014)

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