Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering of hydroxyproline

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of hydroxyproline and one deuterated analogue are reported. In this work, we tackled the problem of SERS reproducibility by employing gold colloids instead of the usual silver sols to achieve plasmon enhanced Raman scattering. We slightly modified modified a previously published procedure to obtain to obtain the colloid, and concentrated the gold particles by centrifugation. The SERS spectra show distinctive bands of hydroxyproline, assigned by comparison to normal Raman spectra and density functional theory calculations. Repeated measurements using this procedure showed reproducible SERS spectra. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vibrational spectroscopic studies and ab initio calculations of phenyl phosphate disodium salt

The Fourier‐transform infrared and Fourier‐tranform Raman spectra of phenyl phosphate disodium salt were recorded and analyzed. The surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum was recorded in a silver colloid. The vibrational wavenumbers of the compound were computed using the Hartree–Fock/6‐31G* basis and compared with the experimental values. The molecule is adsorbed on the silver surface with the benzene ring in a tilted orientation. The presence of the phenyl ring and the phosphate group vibrations in the SERS spectrum reveal the interactions between the phenyl ring and the phosphate group with the silver surface. The first hyperpolarizability is calculated, and the calculated molecular geometry is compared with those of similar reported structures. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SERS activity and stability of the most frequently used silver colloids

Single‐molecule detection by surface‐enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectroscopy has been demonstrated for a variety of molecules. The detection of single molecules that do not have a resonance contribution, SERS, has been shown in the case of adenine. However, when colloidal particles isolated on planar substrates are used as the enhancing medium, the presence of anomalous signals significantly complicates the analysis of the spectra. Selection of a silver colloid that minimizes these spurious signals should improve the ultra‐sensitive detection of non‐resonant single molecules by SERS. A range of silver colloids, prepared by different methods, were investigated with respect to their activity and stability. Minimal anomalous signals were obtained from hydroxylamine‐reduced silver colloids, which suggests that this colloid will be better for ultra‐sensitive SE(R)RS experiments compared to the more common citrate‐ and borohydride‐reduced silver colloids. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fabrication and characterization of SERS‐active silver clusters on glassy carbon

In this article, a novel technique for the fabrication of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active silver clusters on glassy carbon (GC) has been proposed. It was found that silver clusters could be formed on a layer of positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium) (PDDA) anchored to a carbon surface by 4‐aminobenzoic acid when a drop containing silver nanoparticles was deposited on it. The characteristics of the obtained silver clusters have been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), SERS and an SERS‐based Raman mapping technique in the form of line scanning. The AFM image shows that the silver clusters consist of several silver nanoparticles and the size of the clusters is in the range 80–100 nm. The SERS spectra of different concentrations of rhodamine 6G (R6G) on the silver clusters were obtained and compared with those from a silver colloid. The apparent enhancement factor (AEF) was estimated to be as large as 3.1 × 10⁴ relative to silver colloid, which might have resulted from the presence of ‘hot‐spots’ at the silver clusters, providing a highly localized electromagnetic field for the large enhancement of the SERS spectra of R6G. The minimum electromagnetic enhancement factor (EEF) is estimated to be 5.4 × 10⁷ by comparison with the SERS spectra of R6G on the silver clusters and on the bare GC surface. SERS‐based Raman mapping technique in the form of line scanning further illustrates the good SERS activity and reproducibility on the silver clusters. Finally, 4‐mercaptopyridine (4‐Mpy) was chosen as an analyte and the lowest detected concentration was investigated by the SERS‐active silver clusters. A concentration of 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ M 4‐Mpy could be detected with the SERS‐active silver clusters, showing the great potential of the technique in practical applications of microanalysis with high sensitivity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An improved self‐assembly gold colloid film as surface‐enhanced Raman substrate for detection of trace‐level polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous solution

To detect trace‐level polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, some investigations of an improved self‐assembly method are carried out using gold colloid films for the preparation of the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)‐active substrate. Extinction spectra and scanning electron microscopy images reveal that controllable surface plasmonic metal substrates can be obtained by increasing the temperature of (3‐aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane solution up to 64.5 °C. The SERS‐active substrates have a high enhancement factor, and they can be both easily prepared and reproducible. With the use of these substrates, different concentrations of pyrene and anthracene in aqueous solutions were detected by SERS. A further enhancement can be supported by shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy. Raman signals of pyrene and anthracene adsorbed on gold colloid substrates up to limits of detection at 5 and 1 nmol/l, respectively, can be obtained. The quantitative analysis shows the possibility of in situ detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons while such gold colloid film serves as a SERS‐active substrate. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of plasmonic bowtie nanoring array with high sensitivity and reproducibility for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy

A metallic bowtie nanoring array is designed to gain high sensitive and reproducible substrate for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), the electric field enhancement factors (EFs) and the electric field distribution of the bowtie and bowtie nanoring array are numerically investigated by means of the finite‐difference time domain (FDTD) method. After the optimization of the particle size and the array period, the maximum electromagnetic field EF approaches 153, and the corresponding SERS electromagnetic enhancement factor (EMEF) reaches 5.4 × 10⁸. This highly sensitive and reproducible substrate can be a good candidate for SERS applications. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering on colloid gels originated from low molecular weight gelator

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on silver and gold colloid gels formed by a low molecular weight organic gelator, bis‐(S‐phenylalanine) oxalyl amide, was obtained. Strong Raman signals dominate in the SERS spectra of hydrogels containing silver nanoparticles prepared by citrate and borohydride reduction methods, whereas broad bands of low intensity are detected in the spectra of gold colloid gels. Resemblance between Raman spectrum of the crystalline substance and the SERS spectra of the silver nanoparticle–hydrogel composites implies the electromagnetic nature of the signal enhancement. A change in Raman intensity of the benzene and amide II bands caused by an increase in temperature and concentration indicates that the gelling molecules are strongly attached through the benzene moieties to the metal nanoparticles while participating in gel formation by intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the adjacent oxalyl amide groups. Transmission electron microscopy reveals a dense gel structure in the close vicinity of the enhancing metal particles for both silver colloid gels. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

表面增强拉曼光谱检测水中微量的芬太尼

通过化学法合成了具有表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)活性的银胶体,利用透射电子显微镜和紫外可见光谱仪分别对银胶体的形貌和光学性质进行了表征;采用这种衬底对水相中微量的芬太尼进行了SERS检测研究,并对芬太尼的SERS信号进行了归属,考察了各种实验条件对SERS检测的影响。实验结果表明,增大银胶体浓度有利于芬太尼SERS信号的检测;随着团聚剂氯化钠浓度增大芬太尼的SERS信号强度会先增大后减小,即团聚剂浓度存在一个最佳值;在优化的实验条件下芬太尼的检测限可以达到0.1ppm量级。     

对痕量羊角材料降解产物的表面增强拉曼光谱研究

将一定浓度的硝酸银与柠檬酸三钠混合后,利用微波加热法制备纳米银溶胶,该方法加热速度快、温度分布均匀、反应条件易控制。采用准弹性激光散射技术检测其粒度大小及分布状态的信息,测得其平均粒度为(53.27±2.65)nm,粒度大小集中分布在56 nm左右。然后以之作为表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)的活性基底,研究测定羊角痕量降解产物的SERS光谱。结果发现,羊角降解产物的表面增强拉曼效应显著,尤其在659,830,850,929,999,1 028,1 280,1 439,1 599 cm-1等多处出现了明显的拉曼振动峰,这些谱峰反映了羊角降解产物的生化成分信息。并且通过对所获得的羊角降解产物SERS信号进行的谱峰归属分析表明,羊角降解产物主要为氨基酸与多肽类物质。运用表面增强拉曼光谱检测角材料的降解产物,获得较高的灵敏度,可测定浓度低至ppm水平的痕量降解产物,本研究表明,SERS可能为羊角等角材料降解产物的检测提供一种快速、直观、准确的新方法。     

Vibrational spectroscopic studies and computational study of methyl(2‐methyl‐4,6–dinitrophenylsulfanyl)ethanoate

FT‐IR and FT‐Raman spectra of methyl(2‐methyl‐4,6–dinitrophenylsulfanyl)ethanoate (MDIE) were recorded and analyzed. Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra were recorded in silver colloid and silver electrode. The vibrational wavenumbers were computed using HF/6‐31G* and B3LYP/6‐31G* basis. The data obtained from vibrational wavenumber calculations are used to assign vibrational bands obtained in infrared and Raman spectroscopies as well as in SERS of the studied molecule. The first hyperpolarizability and infrared intensities are reported. The geometrical parameters of the title compound are in agreement with the reported similar derivatives. The presence of new bands at 1045 and 948 cm⁻¹ in the SERS spectrum in silver electrode is related to the change in orientation of the molecule with respect to the metal surface. In silver colloid SERS spectrum, the methyl group attached to the methoxy carbonyl group is close to the metal surface, whereas on silver electrode the methyl group attached to the phenyl ring is close to the metal surface. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of calixarene to high active surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates suitable for in situ detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater

The characteristics of the sol–gel matrix embedding Ag nanoparticles functionalized with 25,27‐dimercaptoacetic acid‐26,28‐dihydroxy‐4‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene (DMCX) suitable for the in situ detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater is presented. The DMCX‐functionalized silver nanoparticles were produced by the thermal reduction method in xerogel film. The silver colloid blocks were formed in the sol–gel matrix, with a diameter ranging from 50 to 120 nm. DMCX forming the monolayer on the silver nanoparticle surface contributes to the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity due to the aggregation of silver nanoparticles and the preconcentration of PAH molecules within the zone of electromagnetic enhancement. When selected, PAH molecules e.g. pyrene and naphthalene were adsorbed onto the SERS substrate; Raman band positions of PAH were slightly shifted. A calibration procedure reveals that this type of SERS substrate has a limit of detection of 3 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol/l for pyrene and 13 × 10⁻⁹ mol/l for naphthalene in artificial seawater. The Raman signal response on a pyrene concentration change in artificial seawater was evaluated using a 671‐nm Raman setup with a flow‐through cell. This type of SERS substrate will be suitable for the in situ trace detection of pollutant chemicals in seawater. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A simple method for the preparation of ultrahigh sensitivity surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrate

By immersing mica modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) into the silver colloid, a high efficient surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrate was formed within 2 h at room temperature. The limit of detection of the substrate for Rhodamine 6G is up to 1×10⁻¹⁴ M. Changing the concentration of silver colloid and the treating time, various silver aggregates such as nanocrystals, clusters and films were found, and the SERS spectra of these aggregates were also obtained. The results of SERS revealed that CTAB could accelerate aggregation of the silver colloid and cause great Raman enhancement. Bilayer of CTAB is very important for aggregation of silver colloid and the aggregation extent is the main factor for the enormous enhancement on this substrate.     

噻菌灵在纳米银胶表面吸附的表面增强拉曼光谱研究

噻菌灵(TBZ)属苯并咪唑类杀菌剂,容易在水果、蔬菜及相应的果蔬饮品中形成有毒残留。基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的量子化学计算方法和表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)技术,从理论和实验角度系统研究了噻菌灵在纳米银胶粒子表面的吸附行为和增强效应。采用柠檬酸钠还原法制备了具有表面增强拉曼散射活性的银纳米溶胶,并对水相的噻菌灵进行了SERS光谱研究。利用TBZ-Ag₄四种吸附模型对噻菌灵与银纳米溶胶的相互作用进行了理论分析。结合FT-Raman光谱和B3LYP/6-311G(d)理论计算的结果,借助Gaussian View5.0程序的图形化功能,对噻菌灵分子的振动模式、FT-Raman振动光谱和SERS光谱进行了系统的指认。研究结果表明：噻菌灵分子的所有原子在同一平面上,属于Cs对称性;其在银纳米溶胶表面具有十分显著的表面增强拉曼活性;分子中的S原子与银胶粒子发生吸附作用,并通过该分子的长轴方向垂直于银纳米银胶表面;可利用SERS光谱方法对痕量的噻菌灵进行快速检测。为研究噻菌灵的特性以及其快速检测提供了理论和实验依据。     

Silver nanoparticles synthesized by direct photoreduction of metal salts. Application in surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy

A simple synthesis method of silver nanoparticles and its application as an active surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) colloid are presented in this work. The photoreduction of AgNO₃ in presence of sodium citrate (NaCit) was carried out by irradiation with different light sources (UV, white, blue, cyan, green, and orange) at room temperature. The evaluation of silver nanoparticles obtained as a function of irradiation time (1–24 h) and light source was followed by UV‐visible absorption spectroscopy. This light‐modification process results in a colloid with distinctive optical properties that can be related to the size and shape of the particles. The Ag colloids, as prepared, were employed as active colloids in SERS. Pyridine and caffeine were used as test molecules. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

应用球形和海胆状金混合SERS基底检测高环多环芳烃

合成了海胆状金银复合纳米材料,并与球形金纳米材料混合作为表面增强拉曼活性基底实现了对水中高环多环芳烃的痕量检测。对海胆状材料进行表征,粒径大小约为300～400 nm,表面有40～100 nm明显的刺状凸起。与球形金溶胶混合后并优化pH值及混合比例等参数,产生了优于球形金溶胶2～3倍的增强效果。利用此增强基底检测了危害严重的高环多环芳烃污染物——芘(四环)、苯并蒽(四环)、苯并芘(五环),得到的光谱数据反映出混合SERS基底有良好的重复性和稳定性,对测得光谱进行特征峰归属分析,固体拉曼光谱与水溶液SERS光谱有确定的对应关系,并且在低浓度范围多环芳烃特征峰峰强与其水溶液浓度有良好的线性关系。经计算,芘(四环)、苯并蒽(四环)、苯并芘(五环)的检测限分别为0.44,2.92和1.64 nmol·L-1。该研究的创新点为合成了海胆金纳米颗粒,与球形金溶胶混合后制成新型高效SERS检测基底;选用自制高效SERS基底,实现了高环PAHs痕量检测。结果表明,利用该方法制备的活性基底,可实现对水中高环多环芳烃的痕量检测,为检测水中高环多环芳烃提供了实验室依据。     

基于微波法制备纳米银胶的三种病菌的SERS光谱初步研究

使用激发光为785 nm的便携式拉曼光谱仪分别对赤星病菌、谷镰刀病菌和香蕉炭疽悬浮液进行了普通拉曼光谱和表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)光谱检测。实验结果显示,微波法制备的纳米银胶对三种植物病菌均具有较好的增强效果,同时获得了三种病菌信噪比较好的SERS光谱。从整体上看,三种菌谱峰峰强分布具有一定的相似性,如在481 cm-1处均为最强谱峰,500～1 000 cm-1谱峰较弱和1 000～1 600 cm-1谱峰较强。但三者在谱峰的分布和峰形上仍有明显不同,因此通过比较三种病菌的不同SERS谱峰可对其进行快速区分和鉴别。     

Use of atomic layer deposition to improve the stability of silver substrates for in situ,high‐temperature SERS measurements

A method to stabilize silver surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates for in situ, high‐temperature applications is demonstrated. Silver island films grown by thermal evaporation were coated with a thin layer (from 2.5 to 5 nm) of alumina by atomic layer deposition (ALD), which protects and stabilizes the SERS‐active substrate without eliminating the Raman enhancement. The temporal stability of the alumina‐coated silver island films was examined by measurement of the Raman intensity of rhodamine 6G molecules deposited onto bare and alumina‐coated silver substrates over the course of 34 days. The coated substrates showed almost no change in SERS enhancement, while the uncoated substrates exhibited a significant decrease in Raman intensity. To demonstrate the feasibility of the alumina‐coated silver substrate as a probe of adsorbates and reactions at elevated temperatures, an in situ SERS measurement of calcium nitrate tetrahydrate on bare and alumina‐coated silver was performed at temperatures ranging from 25 to 400 °C. ALD deposition of an ultrathin alumina layer significantly improved the thermal stability of the SERS substrate, thus enabling in situ detection of the dehydration of the calcium nitrate tetrahydrate at an elevated temperature. Despite some loss of Raman signal, the coated substrate exhibited greater thermal stability compared to the uncoated substrate. These experiments show that ALD can be used to synthesize stable SERS substrates capable of measuring adsorbates and processes at high temperature. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

IR,Raman and SERS spectra of ethyl salicylate

The IR and Raman spectra of ethyl salicylate were recorded and analyzed. The surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum was recorded in a silver colloid. The vibrational wavenumbers of the compound have been computed using the Hartree‐Fock/6‐31G* basis. The direction of charge transfer contribution to SERS has been discussed from the frontier orbital theory. The presence of methyl modes in the SERS spectrum indicates the nearness of the methyl group to the metal surface and the presence of ring vibrations and out‐of‐plane ring modes in the SERS spectrum suggests a flat orientation of the molecule on the silver surface. The first hyperpolarizability is calculated and the calculated molecular geometry has been compared with the reported similar structures. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

微波法制备银胶体及其在表面增强拉曼散射中的应用

本文提出了一种利用微波加热的原理,合成一种新型的银胶体溶液。该银胶具有高效的表面增强拉曼活性。以这种新型银胶体粒子作为活性衬底,测得的强荧光物质R6G的表面增强拉曼光谱,体现出荧光背景低,信噪比高的特点。通过两种不同方法制备的银胶体粒子的表面增强拉曼散射效果的比较,发现这种新型银胶纳米粒子通过聚集,形成更多的具有很强的提高样品表面增强拉曼散射强度作用的“热点”,从实验的角度验证了表面增强拉曼中的“热点”理论。     

Portable smart films for ultrasensitive detection and chemical analysis using SERS and SERRS

Metallic nanostructures, much smaller than the wavelength of visible light, which support localized surface plasmon resonances, are central to the giant signal enhancement achieved in surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and surface‐enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS). Plasmonic driven SERS and SERRS is a powerful analytical tool for ultrasensitive detection down to single molecule detection. For all practical SERS applications a key issue is the development of reproducible and portable SERS‐active substrates, where the most widely used metals for nanostructure fabrication are silver and gold. Here, we report the fabrication of a ‘smart film’, containing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), produced by in situ reduction of gold chloride III (Au⁺³) in natural rubber (NR) membranes for SERS and SERRS applications. The composite films (NR/AuNP membranes) show characteristic plasmon absorption of Au nanostructures, which notably do not influence the mechanical properties of the NR membranes. The term ‘smart film’ has to do with the fact that the SERS substrate (smart film) is flexible and standalone, which allows one to take it anywhere and to dip it into solutions containing the analyte to be characterized by SERS or SERRS technique. Besides, the synthesis of the AuNPs at the surface of NR films is much simpler than making an Au colloid and cast it onto a substrate surface or preparing an Au evaporated film. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.