A large-scale, flexible and two-dimensional AuNP/NS as a highly active and homogeneous SERS substrate

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were grown in situ on single-crystalline Gold nanosheet (AuNS) to form a large-scale (lateral-NS-size up to ∼30 μm), two-dimensional (NS-thickness down to ∼50 nm) and flexible AuNP/NS composite structure, which consequently receives a remarkable SERS performance with both high homogeneity and sensitivity. Both large-scale 2D-AuNS and 2D-AuNP/NS can be utilized as a flexible supporting layer, on which other small-sized metallic NSs, NPs (e.g. AuNPs) or their nanocomposites (e.g. AuNP/NPs, AuNP/NSs) are able to be decorated that forms a new 2D-NS-based SERS-active substrate.