Metal-enhanced fluorescence from silver nanoparticle-deposited polycarbonate substrates

Silver nanoparticles were deposited onto polycarbonate (PC) films by employing sequential surface modification methods. In the first step, PC films were etched either by exposure to ultra-violet radiation or by etching with sodium hydroxide at 70 °C, which resulted in the formation of a mixture of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on the surface of the films. Next, the PC films were silanized with 3-(aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APS) in order to introduce amine terminal groups to the surface. Lastly, silver nanoparticles were deposited onto APS-modified PC films, which occurred due to the well-known affinity of silver nanoparticles towards amine groups. Subsequently, the potential of silver deposited-PC films for metal-enhanced fluorescence applications has been demonstrated.