Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a phenomenon that is conveniently used to provide ultra-high sensitivity in Raman spectroscopy measurements, yielding electromagnetic enhancement linked to surface plasmon resonances of materials. Many applications can arise taking advantage of this phenomenon in different fields of biology, physics and chemistry, for example, in the detection of molecular markers of archeological vestiges. From the interaction between nano structured noble metals with an electromagnetic wave, surface plasmons, that is, collective oscillations of the surface conduction electrons of metal nanostructures, are induced. The optimized synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), controlling their size and shape, allows tuning of the wavelength at which the absorption band due to surface plasmon resonance reaches a maximum. The analysis of rhodamine (R6G) by SERS technology was performed supporting it on a glass surface covered with ten thin layers of AgNPs embedded in a polymer matrix. The AgNPs-based substrates were prepared using three different matrices: PVA, starch and pectin, from which AgNPs were synthesized by a room temperature bottom up method. The nanocomposite system involving a maximum of the surface plasmon resonance band at around 530 nm, determined by UV-vis spectroscopy, was chosen due to the laser wavelength to be used in the analysis by Raman spectroscopy. The comparison between the Raman spectrum of bare R6G and that obtained for R6G on SERS substrate, allows us to observe a significant change in the relative intensity and resolution. The experimentally observed Raman bands were supported by DFT calculations of RG6 theoretical vibrational spectra.

SERS materials prepared from silver nanoparticles embedded in polymer matrices

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