Rapid synthesis of Ag nanosheets and deep insights into the link between the morphology and SERS performance

Abstract

Ag nanosheets (AgNS) exhibit enormous potential because of their unique structure and properties. However, the commonly used methods to synthesize AgNS have some disadvantages, such as long reaction time or high reaction temperature, or they involve toxicity and irritating corrosion solvents, which greatly limit their development and application. In this study, AgNS with edge lengths of 500–600 nm, and thicknesses of 25–30 nm are rapidly synthesized by ethylene glycol/deionized water (EG/DI water, solvent), poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP, capping agent), ascorbic acid (L-AA, reducing agent) at 0 °C in only 30 min. This study provides a fast and facile approach for the stable and large-scale production of AgNS. Benefiting from the unique structure of the prepared AgNS, as the SERS substrate it can be used to detect dye molecules (R6G), and achieves a superb enhancement factor of 8.7 × 107. What’s more, it is also successfully realized practical detection of antibiotic benzylpenicillin sodium (NaBP) in milk. The results indicate that the AgNS produced by a simple and efficient method may serve as a high-efficiency SERS substrate for speedy chemical contamination detection.