An advance Towards the Synthesis of Ag Nanorod Arrays with Controlled Surface Roughness for SERS Substrates

Abstract

An innovative approach to produce silver nanorod (NRs) arrays with controlled morphological parameters and surface roughness is presented. The Ag NRs were obtained using a three-stage fabrication process based on the electron beam exposure of a metal-polymer nanocomposite resist on a transparent substrate and development, a post bake and then a series of non-electrochemical metallization steps. After each step the evolution of the Ag NRs was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphology and optical transmittance (T) measurements for Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR). The transmittance measurements were interpreted using models based on the Finite Element Method (FEM).