This study proposes a fabrication strategy for a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate based on a noble-metal nanoshell array structure. First, a silicon wafer is used as the substrate, and a uniform and dense gold (Au) film is deposited on its surface by magnetron sputtering to provide a stable conductive layer and favorable optical response. Subsequently, a monolayer of polystyrene (PS) microspheres is self-assembled on the Au film to form a regularly ordered template structure. A silver (Ag) layer is then sputtered onto the surface of the PS microspheres, enabling the Ag film to uniformly coat the outer surface of the PS spheres. Finally, the PS microsphere template is removed through physical or chemical methods, resulting in the formation of a periodically arranged Au-substrate/Ag nanoshell array on the gold film surface. This structure exploits the interfacial coupling between Au and Ag, as well as the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) generated by the Ag nanoshells under external laser irradiation. As a result, numerous high-intensity electromagnetic “hot spots” are produced in the inter-shell gaps and at the Au–Ag contact regions. These hot spots can significantly amplify the Raman scattering signals of molecules, thereby effectively improving detection sensitivity. In addition, the nanoshell array exhibits good structural uniformity, which contributes to excellent stability and reproducibility of the SERS signals. Experimental results demonstrate that the fabricated substrate produces pronounced Raman signal enhancement for typical probe molecules and exhibits good signal uniformity and detection reliability. Compared with conventional SERS substrates based on randomly distributed nanostructures, this method offers clear advantages in terms of structural controllability and enhancement performance. Furthermore, the fabrication process, which combines PS microsphere self-assembly with magnetron sputtering, is not only simple and relatively low-cost but also suitable for large-area preparation. Therefore, this approach provides a simple and effective strategy for constructing highly sensitive and stable SERS substrates, showing promising application prospects in chemical detection, biosensing, and environmental monitoring.
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Dong, Y., Su, Y., Ding, J., Lai, W. (2026) Preparation and Performance Testing of a SERS-enhanced Substrate. Scientific Research Bulletin, 1(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.71052/grb2025/KPZL3997