The goal of this research is to develop optimal copper metal nanoparticles (MNPs) for applications in surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRA). Various optimized MNPs are formed by oblique angle deposition (OAD) through metal evaporation onto CaF2 substrates at angles ranging from 750 to 800. These nanostructures are characterized with AFM, SEM, and UV/Vis-NIR spectroscopy. A monolayer of p-nitrobenzoate ion was deposited onto the copper nanostructures to determine the degree of vibrational enhancement in SEIRA. These optimized MNPs show SEIRA enhancement factors up to x50 better than MNP grown at incident. We observe SEIRA enhancement factors of ~x200 for optimized silver MNPs and enhancement factors of around x100 and x25 for optimized gold and nickel MNPs, respectively. This work will influence a range of biological, medical, catalytic, environmental, and nanotechnological applications.

Surfaced enhanced infrared absorption on optimized copper nanostructures

249th National Meeting (2015)

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