A highly sensitive and stable SERS substrate using hybrid tungsten dioxide/carbon ultrathin nanowire beams

Compared to noble metals, semiconductor surface enhanced Raman spectrum (SERS) substrates are much cheaper, but their poor sensitivity and stability limits their applications. Here, we report a remarkable enhancement of Raman signals observed from hybrid WO2/C ultrathin nanowire beams. An outstanding enhancement factor (EF) of 1.3 × 106 is achieved, and the lowest detection limit is up to 10−8 M. More importantly, the new SERS active substrate shows ultrahigh chemical, thermal, and light stabilities. An electromagnetic enhancement model and an interfacial charge transfer model coexist in the new SERS substrate.