Raman spectroscopy of active-carbon electrodes when Au colloids are placed at the electrolyte/electrode interface

Abstract

We use surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in studying functionalized Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) when incorporated in active-carbon (A-C) based super-capacitor cells. We observe a resonance-like enhancement in the graphitic line (G-line) vs the D-line (defect line) of the A-C electrode. We also observed an enhancement in the specific capacitance of super-capacitor cell as a function of AuNPs concentration. All of these may be explained by the formation of a quasi-2D array of AuNPs at the interface between electrolyte and the electrode.