Here, we report for the first time a facile and fast one-step strategy to fabricate monodisperse gold nanocubes (GNCs) by spin-coating a gold precursor-loaded PMMA dispersion on N-doped silicon. A vapor induced phase separation allows PMMA self-assembly into a nanoporous film including the GNCs in its holes. Control of size and shape until obtaining monodisperse GNCs was achieved by tailoring the concentration of the gold precursor. Upon increasing this concentration, the optical properties of the GNCs such as the surface plasmon resonance has been red-shifted from 540 to 650 nm, in relation to the strong interaction between closely separated GNCs, increase in their number and PMMA thickness on the substrate surface. Therefore, the high density of hotspots in the gaps between closely spaced GNCs led to the sensitive detection of pyridine with an unprecedented SERS threshold of detection of 10⁻¹² M. SERS experiments revealed the high chemical enhancement and allowed few molecule detection without any surface modification of the GNCs.

Here, we demonstrate for the first time a strategy to self-assemble ZnO nanoparticles (NP) on a large area by a facile one-step process. First, rough and random ZnO nanocrystals (NC), were produced by free-stabilizing aqueous synthesis. Therefore, a post thermal treatment at various temperatures ranging from 80 to 800 °C was necessary to obtain size-tunable and photoluminescent crystalline NP. The fabricated NP had both efficient UV photoluminescence and photocatalytic activity by photo-degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) dye. The annealed NP showed an absorption blue shift in the UV region with decreasing size. This shift was attributed to high quantum confinement effect since ZnO NP diameter reached values lower than the Bohr radius of ZnO (~2.7 nm). The photocatalytic activity displayed dependency on the particle’s size, number, and crystallinity. Subsequently, the NP were self-assembled inside poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanoholes. Subsequently, large area substrate of homogenous properties ZnO NP was obtained. Moreover, the synthesis facility, photoemission and photocatalytic properties of ZnO NP could be a new insight into the realization of high performance and low cost UV laser devices.

This work describes a novel, one-shot strategy to fabricate ultrasensitive SERS sensors based on silver/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposites. Upon spin coating of a dispersion of PMMA and silver precursor on N-doped silicon substrate, closely separated silver nanoparticles were self-assembled into uniform nanospheres. As a result, a thin hydrophobic PMMA layer embedded with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) was obtained on the whole silicon substrate. Consequently, a large-scale, reproducible SERS platform was produced through a rapid, simple, low-cost, and high-throughput technology. In addition, reproducible SERS features and high SERS enhancement factors were determined (SEF ~10¹⁵). This finding matches the highest SEF reported in literature to date (10¹⁴) for silver aggregates. The potential and novelty of this synthesis is that no reducing agent or copolymer was used, nor was any preliminary functionalization of the surface carried out. In addition, the AgNPs were fabricated directly on the substrate’s surface; consequently, there was no need for polymer etching. Then, the synthetic method was successfully applied to prepare opaque SERS platforms. Opaque surfaces are needed in photonic devices because of the absence of secondary back reflection, which makes optical analysis and applications easier.

Gold nanocubes with tunable size and interparticle gap were produced by altering the spin-coating speed of PMMA/gold precursor dispersion on silicon substrate. Then, their optical properties were provided by spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements.

Two distinct Ag/Au nanocomposites, namely, hetero-oligomers and eccentric core/shells were obtained by one-step polymer self-assembly-based fabrication. The Ag concentration-dependent, facet-specific passivation, and presence or absence of anisotropic facets were the main factors responsible for controlling the structures of the final products. Based on an understanding of the role of Ag⁺ ions in controlling the shape of anisotropic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), tailored concentrations of Ag⁺ were applied to design nanoparticles with desired anisotropic surface facets to allow site-specific Ag coatings on AuNPs. The Ag additives acted as shape-directing agents due to an underpotential deposition (UPD) that was responsible for stabilizing the various surface facets that enclose the AuNPs. The morphology differences between the substrate samples resulted in discrete plasmonic and sensing features. In surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) studies, we showed that the site-selective deposition of Ag on anisotropic gold nanohexagons (AuNHs) delivers more advantages as compared to their hetero-oligomer nanostructured counterparts due to synergistic effects.