Electrochemical preparation of silver and gold nanoparticles: Characterization by confocal and surface enhanced Raman microscopy

Localized silver and gold nanoparticles, electrochemically prepared by means of the double-pulse technique, were investigated with respect to their optical and spectroscopic properties by scanning confocal microscopy combined with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and subsequent comparison with the local image of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Analogous to the silver cluster preparation technique, controlled electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles was demonstrated, varying size from 10 to 500 nm and particle density. The maximum SERS enhancement factors found in the measurements were: (i) 10 10 for silver particles and (ii) 10 8 for gold particles. The optical and spectroscopic data of the local nanoparticle structures investigated showed that SERS is a local phenomenon, because (i) only few particles are Raman active particles, (ii) strongest enhancements in SERS are obtained from particle agglomerates, (iii) typically the Raman radiation is emitted from irregular structures like the necks between two or more particles agglomerated. In the investigated range from 10 to 500 nm no significant influence of the particle size was observed.