Pulsed Laser Deposited Au Nanoparticles as Substrates for Surface-Enhanced Vibrational Spectroscopy

Gold nanoparticles with enhanced efficiency as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman and infrared spectroscopies have been grown by pulsed laser deposition on glass and CaF 2 substrates. Transmission electron microscopy analysis has evidenced the presence of nanoparticles with characteristic sizes of several nanometers in diameter. The capabilities of the produced nanoparticles as enhancer substrates have been investigated using the dithiocarbamate fungicide thiram as a test molecule. The enhancement factors and features of SERS and SEIRA spectra are compared to those observed from large Au nanoparticles produced by evaporation at high temperatures. Slight changes in favor of the new substrates are discussed.