Hierarchical Bismutite-Gold Core-Shell Nanostructures for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Synthesis and characterization of highly sensitive SERS-active substrates is of significant interest for the detection of chemical and biological molecules. Using the preparative technique described here we have developed a new SERS substrate based on a hierarchical bismutite/gold core-shell nanostructure, prepared by depositing a layer of gold nanoparticles on the three-dimensional bismutite nanostructures. Such core-shell nanostructure has been utilized as a novel surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy platform for ultrasensitive detection of aromatic molecules with a detect limit below 1nM