Probing applications of laser-ablated Ag colloids in SERS spectroscopy: improvement of ablation procedure and SERS spectral testing

摘要

The possibilities to employ laser-ablated Ag colloids as stable active surfaces for reproducible SERS and SERRS spectral measurements were explored. Ag colloids pre- pared by laser ablation of Ag foil in water under varied conditions were characterized by surface plasmon absorp- tion and transmission electron microscopy. The presence of large Ag particles in these colloids and their sedimenta- tion induce undesired time dependence of the optical characteristics of the colloids.