Fabrication of nano-network gold films via anodization of gold electrode and their application in SERS.

We report here a green and facile one-step method to fabricate nano-network gold films of low roughness via anodization of gold electrodes in an aqueous solution of l-ascorbic acid (AA) or hydroquinone (HQ) at the oxidation peak potential. The preparation involves the formation of thin gold oxide layer by anodization of gold and its simultaneous and/or subsequent reduction by AA or HQ. The as-fabricated nano-network gold films show very strong SERS activity in comparison with the substrates prepared by some other electrochemical roughening methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]