Investigation of TiCN thin films prepared by cathodic arc deposition for alternative SERS substrates

IF 2.7 4区材料科学 Q3 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials Letters Pub Date : 2025-03-23 DOI:10.1016/j.matlet.2025.138454

W. Phae-ngam , T. Chaikeeree , T. Lertvanithphol , K. Dhanasiwawong , G. Gitgeatpong , J. Prathumsit , H. Nakajima , A. Treetong , L. Mathurasa , R. Sangsirimongkolying , S. Limwichean , R. Botta , A. Klamchuen , M. Horprathum

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

We report the cathodic arc deposition of TiCN thin films on a silicon wafer substrate at various N₂/C₂H₂ flow rate ratios for alternative SERS substrate. Structural, morphological, and electronic structures were analyzed by GIXRD, FE-SEM, and XAS. Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) determined the dielectric function and Q-factor to evaluate SERS potential. Our results show that polycrystalline TiCN thin films exhibit plasmonic properties, with highest Q-factor in near-infrared region. Preliminary SERS performance using Rhodamine 6G (R6G) identified the optimal film, at a 2.3 N₂/C₂H₂ ratio, achieving a high EF at 10⁻⁶ M and LOD of 2.11 × 10⁻⁷ M. These findings highlight TiCN thin film as promising candidates for SERS sensor applications.

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来源期刊

Materials Letters 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

3.30%

发文量

1948

审稿时长

50 days

期刊介绍： Materials Letters has an open access mirror journal Materials Letters: X, sharing the same aims and scope, editorial team, submission system and rigorous peer review. Materials Letters is dedicated to publishing novel, cutting edge reports of broad interest to the materials community. The journal provides a forum for materials scientists and engineers, physicists, and chemists to rapidly communicate on the most important topics in the field of materials. Contributions include, but are not limited to, a variety of topics such as: • Materials - Metals and alloys, amorphous solids, ceramics, composites, polymers, semiconductors • Applications - Structural, opto-electronic, magnetic, medical, MEMS, sensors, smart • Characterization - Analytical, microscopy, scanning probes, nanoscopic, optical, electrical, magnetic, acoustic, spectroscopic, diffraction • Novel Materials - Micro and nanostructures (nanowires, nanotubes, nanoparticles), nanocomposites, thin films, superlattices, quantum dots. • Processing - Crystal growth, thin film processing, sol-gel processing, mechanical processing, assembly, nanocrystalline processing. • Properties - Mechanical, magnetic, optical, electrical, ferroelectric, thermal, interfacial, transport, thermodynamic • Synthesis - Quenching, solid state, solidification, solution synthesis, vapor deposition, high pressure, explosive