Single-Molecule SERRS Detection Platforms Obtained via Galvanic Displacement on Silver Fractals

Nanostructured metallic architectures have unique and highly attractive properties, including large optical field enhancements resulting in strong light scattering and absorption. Modification of prefabricated nanostructures by simple galvanic displacement (GD) allows for the design of new nanomaterials with enhanced optical properties. In this paper, we have studied the optical properties of two families of Ag fractals before and after GD in a Au(III) solution. The new nanomaterials showed significantly improved optical enhancing properties that allowed for straightforward and highly reproducible single-molecule detection by surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS).