Ag nanoparticle decorated MnO 2 flakes as flexible SERS substrates for rhodamine 6G detection.

Smart design of advanced substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity is challenging but vital. Herein, we synthesized a new kind of AgNPs/MnO 2 @Al flexible substrate as a SERS substrate for the detection of the analyte rhodamine 6G (R6G). The fabrication of porous MnO 2 nanoflakes on Al foil was conducted via a facile hydrothermal strategy. Owing to the large active surface area of the MnO 2 nanoflakes, the Ag nanoparticles were immobilized and displayed superior SERS performance with a low detection concentration of 1 × 10 -6 M for R6G. In addition, the SERS performance was found to be strongly related to the morphology of the MnO 2 @Al substrate material. Our smart design may provide a new method of construction for other advanced SERS substrates for the detection of R6G.