Page 14 - Shimadzu Journal vol.9 Issue1

Clinical Research

Characterization of the Rapid Corrosion

of Silver Nanorods in Water and

Implications on Sensing Applications

Stephen Stagon / Mechanical Engineering, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL USA
Lev Gasparov / Physics Department, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL USA
Christopher Mealer / Mechanical Engineering, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL USA / Shimadzu Scientific Instruments

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Abstract Metallic nanostructures, such as silver (Ag) nanorods, are to meet critical needs in society . One such current need is the
widely used in biological and chemical sensing applications that rely sensitive, rapid, and low-cost detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus,
on the measurement of subtle changes of the optical response of the
5-6
which is responsible for the devastating Covid-19 illness .
nanostructures in the presence of a target agent. The optical response
of Ag nanorods, like other metallic nanostructures, is highly sensitive to Classical detection techniques rely on the replication of the viral
morphology and surface chemical termination. In pristine condition, the RNA and are expensive and slow . In the literature, sensors that
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optical properties of Ag nanorods and other metallic nanostructures are
rely on the unique optical properties of metallic nanostructures
well documented in the literature. However, almost nothing is known of
the structural and optical properties after exposure to solvents, buffered have been widely demonstrated to be rapid and potentially inex-
solutions, or similar environments in real applications. This Letter reports pensive at scale 8-11 . These optical sensors typically function based
on the investigation into the effects of dissolved gasses, which are known
on the plasmonic properties of noble metal nanostructures, like
to corrode bulk and thin film silver, in deionized water on Ag nanorods.
Through SEM, UV-Vis, SPM, and Raman characterization rapid corrosion silver (Ag) nanorods or nanoparticles. The plasmonic properties
and morphological changes are observed within minutes when Ag of these nanostructures derive from a combination of length-scales
nanorods are exposed to water with dissolved gases present. Conversely,
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less than 100 nm and appropriate electronic work functions . The
almost no measurable changes are observed when the dissolved gases
are removed from the water via boiling. functionality of these nanostructures as sensors relies heavily on the
surfaces of the metallic nanostructures and binding or proximity
Keyword Biological Sensing, Nanomaterials, UV-Vis Spectroscopy,
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of the targeted material to the surfaces . Commonly, the changes
Raman Spectroscopy, Electron Microscopy, Scanning Probe Microscopy
that happen within minutes to the surfaces in the presence of the
targeted material are measured using optical ultra-violet visible
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spectroscopy (UV-Vis) or Raman spectroscopy .
Introduction Unlike ideal laboratory conditions, the conditions experienced
by these nanostructures in sensing applications are diverse and
After nearly 30 years of laboratory scale research, metallic nanos- not well studied. In biological sensing applications, many different
tructures are finally poised to propel existing and new technologies materials, like phosphate buffered saline, are required to maintain

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