Preparation of SERS-active silver film electrodes via electrocrystallization of silver

The electrodeposition of a sufficiently large amount of silver on silver films at high over potentials leads to excellent substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The surfaces roughened in this manner show great uniformity across the active area and exhibit SERS enhancement factors which are superior to those of silver surfaces roughened by conventional oxidation–reduction cycles. Since they are excellently reproduced from one sample to another, the prospects for application of this substrate for analytical purposes are very promising.