Supramolecular Templates for Nanoflake-Metal Surfaces

A sustainable method for the fabrication of metallic surfaces with flower-like fractal morphology was developed by using a three-dimensional supramolecular assembly as a template. Modifying Au nanoflakes with self-assembled monolayers or polymers allows the surface wettability to be adjusted from superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic (see figure). Furthermore, Au nanoflakes present excellent substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).