Metal-enhanced fluorescence from silver nanoparticle-deposited polycarbonate substrates

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles were deposited onto polycarbonate (PC) films by employing sequential surface modification methods. In the first step, PC films were etched either by exposure to ultra-violet radiation or by etching with sodium hydroxide at 70 °C, which resulted in the formation of a mixture of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on the surface of the films. Next, the PC films were silanized with 3-(aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APS) in order to introduce amine terminal groups to the surface. Lastly, silver nanoparticles were deposited onto APS-modified PC films, which occurred due to the well-known affinity of silver nanoparticles towards amine groups. Subsequently, the potential of silver deposited-PC films for metal-enhanced fluorescence applications has been demonstrated.