SERS Enhanced Raman Mapping via Self-Assembly of Silver NanoCubes

We report Silver NanoCubes (AgNCs) monolayer synthetized using CTAC/C6H8O6/CF3COOAg/FeCl3 and dispersed in water. The self-assembled AgNCs monolayer on the silicon surface was analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), while the mapping of the monolayer was characterized by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The SERS analysis across various mapping areas revealed that the self-assembled monolayers prepared are uniform, indicating that the extensive coverage of monolayers on substrates is primarily attributed to interfacial electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged molecules of the hydrophilic nanoparticles. Therefore, we show that the nanoparticles obtained can readily aggregate in a mixture of solution and water, thereby forming a self-assembled of monolayer of Ag nanoparticles.