Ion-beam-engineered Ag–Cu alloy films on PET enable flexible, reusable SERS substrates; detection limit ~400 pM for Nile Blue

Ion-beam-engineered Ag–Cu alloy films on PET enable flexible, reusable SERS substrates; detection limit ~400 pM for Nile Blue

Ion-beam-engineered Ag–Cu alloy films on PET as flexible and reusable SERS substrates - Publications Repository - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, HZDR

Ion-beam-engineered Ag–Cu alloy films on PET as flexible and reusable SERS substrates

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Mohan Das, N.; Yadav, D.; Satya Bharati Moram, S.; Hübner, R. ; Heller, R. ; Kentsch, U. ; Karmakar, S.; D’Amico, F.; Rao Soma, V.; Rat, S.; Koyiloth Vayalil, S.; Kumar Avasthi, D.

Ag–Cu alloy thin films deposited on flexible PET substrates were engineered to develop flexible and reusable SERS platforms. The films were irradiated by 50 keV Ag + ions to facilitate the partial embedding of Ag–Cu nanostructures into the PET surface, which represents the key novelty of this work, enabling reusability through structurally stabilized, partially embedded nanostructures. The alloy formation was confirmed by GIXRD, while the evolution of partially embedded structures is inferred from RBS tailing and cross-sectional STEM imaging. The fabricated nanostructures exhibit remarkable SERS performance, tested with Nile Blue and R6G dyes, and picric acid explosive as the probe analytes. A detection limit of ~400 pM is achieved for NB with an analytical enhancement of ~10 4 for both dyes. The partial embedding of nanostructures into the PET matrix provides mechanical robustness, preventing nanostructure detachment during multiple analyte washing cycles, thereby promoting reusability and sustainability. These findings establish ion beam engineering as a versatile approach to tailor plasmonic nanostructures on flexible platforms, combining high SERS enhancement with reusability. The proposed methodology offers a promising pathway toward flexible, durable, and reusable SERS substrates for sensing of harmful dyes, explosives, and other hazardous materials, aligning with the need for flexible devices and circular economy.

Ion Beam Center DOI: 10.17815

jlsrf-3-159 is cited by this (Id 43745) publication

Applied Surface Science 748(2026), 167803 DOI: 10.1016

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