Au Nanoparticle Aggregates Assembled on 3D Mirror-like Configuration Using Canna generalis Leaves for SERS Applications

Novel biomaterial based SERS substrates fabricated on Canna generalis leaf surfaces is reported. The substrates were fabricated by taking advantage of the unique pattern of the surface micro/nanostructures found on the leaf surface and the activity was demonstrated by using R6G as a model analyte. In one of the cases, a three-dimensional mirror-like configuration was created by sputter deposition of a thin film of Au metal followed by assembly of Au nanoparticle aggregates over them to form a nano-junction. This nano-junction based SERS substrate performed better than another substrate fabricated by simple drop casting of Au nanoparticle solution on the leaf surface, which could be attributed to the enhanced plasmonic interactions between the Au nanoparticle aggregates with the Au thin film. Such facile nano-junction based systems having nanoparticles on 3D mirror-like configurations fabricated on naturally occurring materials can be conveniently used for chemical and biomedical analysis.