Ag nanoparticle induced surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy of chemical vapor deposition diamond thin films prepared by hot filament chemical vapor deposition

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy was performed by depositing Ag particles by dc sputtering on thin diamond films prepared by hot filament chemical vapor deposition. Enhancement of Raman signal by a factor up to 100 could be obtained by controlling the Ag particle size. Raman spectra from different locations through the thickness of diamond films indicate a variation in the carbon structures. Phonon density of states of diamond and graphite are considered along with previously reported observations, to analyze the additional bands which appear in the SERS scattering as a consequence of the presence of the Ag particles. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.