Silver nanoparticles in multiwalled carbon nanotube–Nafion for surface-enhanced Raman scattering chemical sensor

A novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active surface prepared by attaching silver nanoparticles in the multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)–Nafion is described. The resulting Ag–MWCNT–Nafion nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The application of the Ag–MWCNT–Nafion nanocomposite in SERS is investigated by using rhodamine 6G (R6G). The SERS intensities of R6G at the Ag–MWCNT–Nafion-coated indium-tin oxide (ITO) substrate are greater than those at the Ag-coated and Ag–carbon black–Nafion-coated ITO substrates. The in situ determination of R6G in aqueous solution with SERS method at the Ag–MWCNT–Nafion nanocomposite displayed a line range from 10−8 to 10−5 M. The present methodology demonstrates that the nanocomposite film composed of Ag, MWCNT, and Nafion is potential for optical chemical sensor applications.