SERS-active silver nanoparticles on electrospun nanofibers facilitated via oxygen plasma etching

Abstract

Manipulating the interaction between inorganic building blocks and polymeric supporting materials is crucial in the fabrication and optimization of hybrid hierarchical nanostructures. Herein, oxygen plasma etching was used to modify electrospun nanofibers of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) for facilitating the growth of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The PMMA nanofibers in the form of overlaid films, surface-decorated with Ag NPs, were explored as active substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Strong SERS enhancement was observed from the Ag NP–PMMA films, as well as individual nanofibers. Our work not only fabricated nanocomposite materials with controlled hierarchical structures and remarkable SERS performances, but also provided a versatile method in tuning interfacial interactions within nanostructured materials.