FT-surface-enhanced Raman scattering of 2,2′-cyanine adsorbed on silver with AFM characterization of silver films

Silver films were prepared using the homogeneous chemical reduction method. The surface morphology and optical properties of these films Ag films fabricated with different deposition times were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and absorption spectroscopy. The AFM images show that the Ag films posses nanometer scale structure and differ mainly in the degree of aggregation of Ag particles. The Ag films exhibit a surface plasmon resonance band at about 380 nm with a red-shifted band that can be extended to 1000 nm with increasing degree of aggregation of Ag particles. FT-SERS spectra were obtained for 2,2′-cyanine adsorbed on the Ag films.