Mechanism of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering on Multilayer Ti$_{\mathbf{3}}$\textbf{C}$_{\mathbf{2}}$\textbf{T}$_{\mathbf{X}}$\textbf{ Nanosheets}

Tej Limbu; Chao Ma; Chao Ma; Chao Ma; Chao Ma; Chao Ma; Chao Ma

Mechanism of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering on Multilayer Ti$_{\mathbf{3}}$\textbf{C}$_{\mathbf{2}}$\textbf{T}$_{\mathbf{X}}$\textbf{ Nanosheets}

ORAL

Abstract

MXenes have attracted great attention~as~flat substrates~for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications. However, the underlying SERS mechanism has not been a focus of any investigation. Herein, we report the first systematic experimental study on the SERS activity of Ti$_{3}$C$_{2}$T$_{X\, }$nanosheets with thickness ranging from 5 to 120 nm, using methylene blue (MB) as a probe molecule. We found that SERS intensity increases with the MXene nanosheet thickness. The thickness-dependence of the Raman enhancement can be accounted for by the adsorption and intercalation of MB molecules into the interlayer spacing of Ti$_{3}$C$_{2}$T$_{X}$. Furthermore, by combining experimental observations and numerical calculation, we confirm that the charge transfer mechanism is dominantly responsible for Raman enhancement on Ti$_{3}$C$_{2}$T$_{X}$. Additionally, we report an observation of resonance coupling of charge transfer and molecular transition as a contributing factor to the higher EF obtained with a 633 nm laser excitation. Taken together, these findings have significant implications for cost and performance optimization in designing MXene-based SERS substrates for next-generation chemical and biological sensing platforms.

Oct. 22, 2021, 4:24 PM – Oct. 22, 2021, 4:36 PM

Authors

Tej Limbu

Department of Physical and Applied Sciences, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX, 77598
Chao Ma

University of Texas at Arlington, Florida International University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas A&M University–Commerce, University of Houston Downtown, Texas A\&M University, Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Physics, MSEC, Texas State University, Ingram School of Engineering, MSEC, Texas State University, MSEC, Texas State University, Ingram School of Engineering, Texas State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, University of San Francisco, University of Wuppertal, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Houston, University of Texas at Dallas, Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy, Texas A & M University, Center for Neutrino Physics, Department of Physics Virginia Tech, None, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Electrical Engineering, Yale University
Chao Ma

University of Texas at Arlington, Florida International University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas A&M University–Commerce, University of Houston Downtown, Texas A\&M University, Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Physics, MSEC, Texas State University, Ingram School of Engineering, MSEC, Texas State University, MSEC, Texas State University, Ingram School of Engineering, Texas State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, University of San Francisco, University of Wuppertal, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Houston, University of Texas at Dallas, Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy, Texas A & M University, Center for Neutrino Physics, Department of Physics Virginia Tech, None, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Electrical Engineering, Yale University
Chao Ma

University of Texas at Arlington, Florida International University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas A&M University–Commerce, University of Houston Downtown, Texas A\&M University, Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Physics, MSEC, Texas State University, Ingram School of Engineering, MSEC, Texas State University, MSEC, Texas State University, Ingram School of Engineering, Texas State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, University of San Francisco, University of Wuppertal, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Houston, University of Texas at Dallas, Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy, Texas A & M University, Center for Neutrino Physics, Department of Physics Virginia Tech, None, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Electrical Engineering, Yale University
Chao Ma

University of Texas at Arlington, Florida International University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas A&M University–Commerce, University of Houston Downtown, Texas A\&M University, Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Physics, MSEC, Texas State University, Ingram School of Engineering, MSEC, Texas State University, MSEC, Texas State University, Ingram School of Engineering, Texas State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, University of San Francisco, University of Wuppertal, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Houston, University of Texas at Dallas, Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy, Texas A & M University, Center for Neutrino Physics, Department of Physics Virginia Tech, None, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Electrical Engineering, Yale University
Chao Ma

University of Texas at Arlington, Florida International University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas A&M University–Commerce, University of Houston Downtown, Texas A\&M University, Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Physics, MSEC, Texas State University, Ingram School of Engineering, MSEC, Texas State University, MSEC, Texas State University, Ingram School of Engineering, Texas State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, University of San Francisco, University of Wuppertal, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Houston, University of Texas at Dallas, Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy, Texas A & M University, Center for Neutrino Physics, Department of Physics Virginia Tech, None, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Electrical Engineering, Yale University
Chao Ma

University of Texas at Arlington, Florida International University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas A&M University–Commerce, University of Houston Downtown, Texas A\&M University, Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Physics, MSEC, Texas State University, Ingram School of Engineering, MSEC, Texas State University, MSEC, Texas State University, Ingram School of Engineering, Texas State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, University of San Francisco, University of Wuppertal, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Houston, University of Texas at Dallas, Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy, Texas A & M University, Center for Neutrino Physics, Department of Physics Virginia Tech, None, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Electrical Engineering, Yale University