AG NANOPARTICLE-DECORATED SiO2-Al2O3-ZRO2 COMPOSITES AS LOW-COST SUBSTRATE FOR ENHANCED SIGNAL INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

Abstract

A ceramic-metal composite was produced using the sol-gel method and the electrospinning technique as a potential enhancement substrate for infrared spectroscopy. The precursor solution of tetraethyl orthosilicate, aluminium nitrate, and zirconium butoxide was mixed with polyvinylpyrrolidone and then electrospun into non-woven fibrous membranes. The membranes were sintered, decorated with silver nanoparticles, and characterized using SEM, XRD, and ATR-FTIR. The ceramic membranes were composed of cylindrical fibers with an average diameter of ∼190 nm with a smooth surface and spherical particles with an average diameter of ∼9 nm embedded evenly on top. The enhancement capacity of the substrates was tested using pyridine at different concentrations on infrared spectroscopy. An enhancement factor of approximately 1×106 times for the signal of pyridine 1 nM was achievable, showing the material is a promising alternative to a low-cost nanostructured surface enhancement substrate for infrared spectroscopy