We study the change in the surface electromagnetic field provided by photo-excited silver nanoparticles as the field is disturbed by fluorescence carbon nanodots. Fluorescent carbon nanodots with appropriate quantity and quality of surface functional groups are used to mediate the aggregation of silver nanoparticles of matching size and shape to form available nano-size conical structures. Carbon nanodots in the composite absorb and transfer additional photo energy to the silver surface, resulting in energy aggregation within the cone structure and enhancement of the electromagnetic field in proximity to the silver surface. This elevated energy state is manifested in the strengthening of the SERS signal of the analytical probe 4-aminopheny disulfide and the mechanism involved is elucidated by additional molecular spectroscopies.
