Synthesis and Optical Characterization of Terfenol-D Nanoparticles

We report on Terfenol-D nanoparticle (TDNP) production by Laser Ablation Synthesis in Solution (LASiS). Nanoparticle shape and size distribution were analyzed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Colloidal optical properties were studied by means of UV-Vis spectroscopy, and Raman scattering. The nanoparticles present a spherical shape with average size of 17 nm. Interesting results have been found regarding absorbance peak shift in the UV-Vis experiment, a dependence on colloidal suspension concentration. A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) of the amino acid Proline (Pro) using TDNP as substrate was performed and compared with previous studies. An expected intensification on several Proline peaks was observed, as well as a strong blue-shift of peaks assigned to CH and CH
₂
stretching vibrations. These results indicate Terfenol-D nanoparticles might be a promising material as SERS agents, with possible applications in nanophotonics, e.g., as biosensors.