Recyclable Ag-TiO₂ SERS Substrates Fabricated via Plasma Jet Printing

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran.

2 Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran

3 Plasma and Nuclear Fusion Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Box 14155-1339, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Recyclable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates are important for real-world use because they can be used multiple times and are affordable. In this study, we developed a simple and low-cost method for fabricating recyclable SERS substrates by depositing silver nanoparticles onto TiO₂ nanostructures using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet without the need for chemical reducing or stabilizing agents. TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized via a sol-gel process and drop-cast onto glass substrates, followed by silver nanoparticle deposition through plasma jet printing. Structural analyses using XRD and FESEM confirmed the formation of anatase-phase TiO₂ and spherical Ag nanoparticles with tunable density. The SERS activity was optimized at a 60 s deposition time, and the substrates demonstrated strong plasmonic response and excellent reusability over five UV-assisted photocatalytic cleaning cycles using Rhodamine B and Methylene Blue. The substrates maintained over 80% of their initial Raman signal intensity, with no cross-contamination observed between analytes.  These results show that the Ag-TiO₂ substrates are very sensitive, stable, and can be reused, making them a practical option for real-world SERS applications.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Progress in Physics of Applied Materials
Volume 5, Issue 2 - Serial Number 9
November 2025
Pages 117-123

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History

  • Receive Date: 11 April 2025
  • Revise Date: 25 June 2025
  • Accept Date: 07 July 2025

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