Preparation of SERS-active substrates using thermal inkjet technology

Highly sensitive SERS substrates capable of detecting less than a hundred molecules were prepared via TIJ technology. Films were prepared by printing silver nanoparticles (Ag NP) suspensions on quartz and other surfaces. Prepared substrates were characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Morphological evolution of films was monitored by atomic force microscopy. Inhomogeneous coverage of Ag NP was obtained for a single deposition, while a more uniform distribution of Ag NP was obtained when the number of depositions increased. SERS performance of the prepared SERS substrates was evaluated using p-aminobenzenethiol as a probe molecule. An estimated enhancement factor of 9.0 × 1012 was obtained.