Size-controlled synthesis of Au nanoparticles and nanowires and their application as SERS substrates

Different alkylamine-capped Au nanoparticles (NPs) and nanowires (NWs) have been successfully prepared through a facile one-pot solution growth method. Alkylamines serve as reducing agents and stabilizers in the synthetic process. As the chain length of alkylamines has an effect on the diffusion rate of monomers, the sizes of NPs and the diameters of NWs can be adjusted by adding different alkylamines in the synthetic process. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of rhodamine 6G (Rh 6G) are obtained on the Au NPs and NWs modified substrates, indicating that the as-synthesized Au nanostructures have great potential for high sensitive optical detection application.