One-step electrochemical fabrication of vertically self-organized silver nanograss

Fabrication of one dimensional metal nanomaterials offers many beneficial aspects due to their unique size- and shape-dependent characteristics. However, facile fabrication of a robust one dimensional nanostructure has still remained a great challenge. Here, we developed a new synthetic route of one-step electrochemical deposition of silver nanograss without the assistance of a template. By applying an overpotential of -2.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) under aqueous alkaline conditions, silver nanograss with a slight tilt in a randomly oriented direction was spontaneously formed on the working electrode surface. Two applications that utilize advantageous features of this silver nanograss were demonstrated: (i) an efficient surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate for a chemical sensor and (ii) an enzyme-less hydrogen peroxide sensor. Compared to silver nanowire arrays fabricated using anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) templates, the silver nanograss exhibited comparable hydrogen sensing due to its catalytic hydrogen peroxide reduction activity and produced a much stronger surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) signal due to its innate structure.