OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 3 1 (December 2013) 2013 06 01 Synthesis, characterization, and experimental investigation of surface activity of SERS substrates using neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) 10.1186/2193-8865-3-40 EN Fatemeh Sadeghi Department of Physics, Payam Noor University, Tehran, 19395-4697, IR Farzad Khani Department of Mathematics, Razi University, Kermanshah, 6715685438, IR Abbas Hemati Azandaryani Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Razi University, Kermanshah, 6715685438, IR Nano Drug Delivery Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, 6714676573, IR Yadollah Mansouri Environmental Epidemiological Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, 6714676573, IR Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Razi University, Kermanshah, 6715685438, IR Zahra Shaykhi Mehrabadi Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Razi University, Kermanshah, 6715685438, IR Amir Nikjou Department of Physics, Payam Noor University, Tehran, 19395-4697, IR Journal Article 2013 06 01 Abstract The activity of two surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates was investigated using neodymium oxide (Nd 2 O 3 ) molecules. Colloidal silver solution, containing nano-sized silver particles and silver-coated filter papers were used as the SERS substrates. In order to characterize the substrates, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and scanning electron microscopy were used. Subsequently, gain enhancement factors were calculated from the measured spectra to monitor the change in effectiveness of the SERS substrates under prolonged storage time. Experimental results show that for enhancing the Raman signal, the activity of two fabricated substrates is very effective.