Freestanding 2D arrays of silver nanorods

Abstract

The fabrication of a robust 2D array of randomly oriented silver nanorods (Ag-NR) as a free-standing film by encapsulating these nanorods into polymeric layer-by-layer (LbL) nanomembranes was examined. These silver nanoparticles can be exploited as nanoscale building blocks with unique properties such as geometry-dependent optical properties or surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The silver nanorods making up the central layer are sandwiched between two LbL films, thus forming nanocomposite films with the general formula (PAH/PSS) 10-PAHAg(PAH/PSS)10PAH. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of cast and spin-coated silver-containing films show adsorbed silver nanorods uniformly distributed on a surface of silicon and LbL film without significant aggregation for high surface coverage.