Properties of ordered titanium templates covered with Au thin films for SERS applications

• Published in: Applied surface science 2016-12, Vol.388, p.716-722
• Main Authors: Grochowska, Katarzyna, Siuzdak, Katarzyna, Sokołowski, Michał, Karczewski, Jakub, Szkoda, Mariusz, Śliwiński, Gerard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anodization; Au thin layers; Dimpled Ti templates; SERS measurements
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.01.186

•Dimpled Ti substrates prepared via anodization followed by etching.•Highly ordered nano-patterned titanium templates covered with thin Au films.•Enhanced Raman signal indicates on promising sensing material. Currently, roughened metal nanostructures are widely studied as highly sensitive Raman scattering substrates that show application potential in biochemistry, food safety or medical diagnostic. In this work the structural properties and the enhancement effect due to surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of highly ordered nano-patterned titanium templates covered with thin (5–20nm) gold films are reported. The templates are formed by preparation of a dense structure of TiO2 nanotubes on a flat Ti surface (2×2cm2) and their subsequent etching down to the substrate. SEM images reveal the formation of honeycomb nanostructures with the cavity diameter of 80nm. Due to the strongly inhomogeneous distribution of the electromagnetic field in the vicinity of the Au film discontinuities the measured average enhancement factor (107–108) is markedly higher than observed for bare Ti templates. The enhancement factor and Raman signal intensity can be optimized by adjusting the process conditions and thickness of the deposited Au layer. Results confirm that the obtained structures can be used in surface enhanced sensing.