Hexagonally arranged arrays of urchin-like Ag hemispheres decorated with Ag nanoparticles for surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates

The surface topography of noble metal particles is a significant factor in tailoring surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties. Here, we present a simple fabrication route to hexagonally arranged arrays of surface-roughened urchinlike Ag hemispheres (Ag-HSs) decorated with Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) for highly active and reproducible SERS substrates. The urchin-like Ag-HS arrays are achieved by sputtering Ag onto the top surface of a highly ordered porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template to form ordered arrays of smooth Ag-HSs and then by electrodepositing Ag-NPs onto the surface of each Ag-HS. Owing to the ordered arrangement of the Ag-HSs and the improved surface roughness, the urchin-like hierarchical Ag-HS arrays can provide sufficient and uniform "hot spots" for reproducible and highly active SERS effects. Using the urchin-like Ag-HS arrays as SERS substrates, 10^-7 M dibutyl phthalate (a member of plasticizers family) and 1.5 × 10^-5 M PCB-77 (one congener of polychlorinated biphenyl, a notorious class of pollutants) are identified, showing promising potential for these substrates in the rapid recognition of organic pollutants.