Synthesis of centimeter level AgCu alloy nanowires via a solid-state ionics method and their SERS effect

Abstract

AgCu alloy nanowires were prepared by a solid-state ionics method under a direct current electric field (DCEF) using fast ionic conductor RbAg4I5 films and Rb4Cu16Cl13I7 films. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the AgCu alloy nanowires were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), respectively. Raman enhancement performance of the AgCu alloy nanowires substrates was detected by Rhodamine 6G (R6G) aqueous solutions as probe molecules. Long-range order and short-range order AgCu alloy nanowires with the length of 1 cm were prepared by a solid-state ionics method. The nanowires were bamboo-shaped and the diameters of nanowires ranged from 30 to 130 nm, many regularly arranged nanoparticles with the diameter of 15 nm lie in the prepared nanowires. The molar ratio of Ag to Cu is 15:1. The limiting concentrations of R6G for the prepared AgCu alloy nanowires SERS substrates is 10−14 mol/L.