Multi-walled carbon nanotubes /boron oxide composite using plasmonic Ag nanoparticles: Synthesis and SERS characterization

Abstract

In this work, by applying a straightforward and easy technique B2O3 doped MWCNTs synthesized using laser ablation in liquid environment (LALE) method. The plasmonc properties of Ag NPs prepared via Lee-Meisel technique was used to prepare high quality substrates for Surface – enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements The size of Ag NPs was acknowledged by UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy and SEM imaging (<50 nm). A rather powerful SERS signal was created due to the plasmonic effect and the presence of Ag NPs. Furthermore, SERS spectra were collected in all the synthesized samples. The concentration level down to 10−4 molar (M) of boron oxide (B2O3) doped samples were detected. The recorded data reveals that an enhancement factor (EF) SERS factor of about 105 can be easily achieved applying this method.