Abstract
We investigated the Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) spectrum of ethephone (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid). We observed significant signals in the ordinary Raman spectrum for solid-state ethephone as well as when it was adsorbed on a colloidal silver surface, strong vibrational signals were obtained at a very low concentration. The SERS spectra were obtained by silver colloids that were prepared by the $\gamma$-irradiation method. The influence of pH and the influence of anion $(Cl^-,\;Br^-,\;I^-)$ on the adsorption orientation were investigated. Two different adsorption mechanisms were deduced, depending on the experimental conditions. The chlorine atom or the chlorine and two oxygen atoms were adsorbed on the colloidal silver surface. Among halide ions, $Br^-$ and $I^-$ were more strongly adsorbed on the colloidal silver surfaces. As a result, the adsorption of ethephone was less effective due to their steric hinderance.