SERS Not To Be Taken for Granted in the Presence of Oxygen

Oxidation of the Ag nanoparticle surface has a dramatic effect on the adsorption, orientation, and SERS detection limit of nitroaromatic molecules in aqueous solutions. Ultrasensitive SERS detection of p-nitrophenol can be achieved when oxidation of surface-immobilized Ag nanoparticles is inhibited by replacing the oxygen dissolved in water with argon gas. The presence of silver oxide at the nanoparticle surface hinders charge transfer between the aromatic ring and the underlying Ag metal surface and drastically decreases the overall detection sensitivity.