Aligned Copper Nanorod Arrays for Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering

Highly ordered copper nanorod arrays have been synthesized using potentiostatic electrodeposition within the confined nanochannels of a porous anodic alumina membrane (PAAM). These arrays were evaluated as potential surface- enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrates using Rhodamine 6G as a reported molecule. SERS activity was shown to depend upon the length of the nanorods exposed to the surface which is controlled by the etching time. The Cu nanorods with average lengths of 200 nm exposed to surface exhibited the maximum SERS enhancement. Theoretical analyses indicate that this large SERS enhancement may be partially explained by the shape, density, and lateral arrangement of the Cu nanorod arrays.