Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and chromium oxide (Cr2O3) nanoparticles were prepared by the thermolysis of nitrate salts, Al(NO3)3 and Cr(NO3)3, respectively. The composition and morphology of metal oxide nanoparticles were confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy characterization. The quality of synthesized metal oxides were also examined by observing the surface–enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of methyl orange adsorbed on Al2O3 and Cr2O3. The observed SERS effect can be ascribed to charge-transfer (CT) resonance effect between methyl orange and metal oxide surfaces. Density functional theory with emphasis on long–range CT effect was used to calculate optical absorption spectra and interpret the chemical enhancement mechanism of the observed SERS effect using metal oxide nanoparticles as substrates.

Preparation of metal oxide substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

249th National Meeting (2015)

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