Effect of silver nanowires on the surface-enhanced Raman spectra (SERS) of the RNA bases

RNA bases have a great importance in the biological and genetics applications. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was used to study the orientation and adsorption structure of RNA bases adsorbed on the surface of silver nanowires (Ag NWs). The Ag NWs were prepared and its UV-vis spectra were recorded. The RNA bases oriented perpendicularly on the surface of Ag NWs, as the coverage area decreases. Consequently, the in-plane bands were enhanced according to the SERS selection rule. Many bands were red shifted due to the chemisorption of RNA bases on the Ag NWs surface. New bands corresponding to the base-surface bond were appeared in the SERS spectra. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.