Galvanic replacement synthesis of silver dendrites-reduced graphene oxide composites and their surface-enhanced Raman scattering characteristics

Abstract

A simple method was developed to synthesize Ag dendrites/reduced graphene oxide (AgD/RGO) composites based on the galvanic displacement method. AgNO3 was used as the precursor for Ag dendrites and aluminum foils served as the sacrifice metal. The as-synthesized AgD/RGO composite was characterized by SEM, FTIR, UV–vis spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the graphene oxide was successfully incorporated into the Ag dendritic structure and was reduced during the galvanic displacement between Ag+ ions and the aluminum foil. XRD analysis revealed that the Ag formed in the composite was in the cubic phase. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) property of the as synthesized AgD/RGO composite was evaluated using Rhodamine B as a probe. The composite deposited substrate exhibited a much higher SERS activity compared with substrates modified with Ag dendrites or GO, indicating that the AgD/RGO could potentially be used as a highly sensitive SERS substrate for molecule detecting applications.