Abstract
Here, we suggest an effective method to create a three-dimensional SERS-active substrate using a nanoporous polymer with bicontinuous nanochannels as a template for electroless plating of gold (Au), resulting in the formation of Au multibranches with sharp tips and corners for high-density and uniformly distributed hotspots as reliable SERS devices for detection. Also, by taking advantage of easy processing of polymeric materials, the polymer-based SERS-active substrate can be effectively fabricated in a large area for device design with mechanical robustness. Crystal violet and β-carotene molecules are used to demonstrate the superior SERS detection sensitivity with high reproducibility and stability using the polymer-based SERS-active substrate, suggesting a new approach to fabricate materials for the detection of chemicals with an average enhancement factor up to 10 8 . © 2014 the Partner Organisations.