Quantitative surface enhanced Raman scattering detection based on the "sandwich" structure substrate

A sandwich structured substrate was designed for quantitative molecular detection using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), in which the probe molecule was sandwiched between silver nanoparticles (SNPs) and silver nanoarrays. The SNPs was prepared using Lee-Meisel method, and the silver nanoarrays was fabricated on porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) using electrodepositing method. The SERS studies show that the sandwich structured substrate exhibits good stability and reproducibility, and the detection sensitivity of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and Melamine can respectively reach up to 10(-19) M and 10(-9) M, which is improved greatly as compared to other SERS substrates. The improved SERS sensitivity is closely associated with the stronger electromagnetic field enhancement, which stems from localized surface plasmon (LSP) coupling between the two silver nanostructures. Furthermore, the SERS intensity increased almost linearly as the mother concentration increased, which indicates that such a sandwich structure may be used as a good SERS substrate for quantitative analysis.     

The optimisation of facile substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering through galvanic replacement of silver onto copper

A fast and cost-effective approach for the synthesis of substrates used in surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been developed using galvanic displacement. Deposition of silver onto commercially available Cu foil has resulted in the formation of multiple hierarchical structures, whose morphology show dependence on deposition time and temperature. Analysis of the surface structure by scanning electron microscopy revealed that the more complex silver structures correlated well with increased deposition time and temperature. Using Rhodamine 6G (R6G) as a model Raman probe it was also possible to relate the substrate morphology directly with subsequent SERS intensity from the R6G analyte as well as the reproducibility across a total of 15 replicate Raman maps (20 × 20 pixels) consisting of 400 spectra at a R6G concentration of 10(-4) M. The substrate with the highest reproducibility was then used to explore the limit of detection and this compared very favourably with colloidal-based SERS assessments of the same analyte.     

Improved surface-enhanced Raman scattering on optimum electrochemically roughened silver substrates

In this work, the effects of preparation conditions used in roughening silver substrates by electrochemical triangular-wave oxidation-reduction cycles (ORC) on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) were first investigated. The optimum roughening conditions for obtaining strongest SERS of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) are as follows. Ag electrodes were cycled in deoxygenated aqueous solutions containing 0.1 M NaCl from −0.3 to +0.2 V versus Ag/AgCl at 25 mV s⁻¹ for five scans. The SERS of R6G adsorbed on this optimum procedure-prepared roughened Ag substrate exhibits a higher intensity by one order of magnitude, as compared with that of R6G adsorbed on a normally roughened Ag substrate.     

三维树枝状银薄膜的可控生长及其在表面增强拉曼光谱中的应用

通过电流置换反应制备了树枝状银纳米薄膜。在反应过程中通过控制反应时间和硝酸银的浓度,得到了不同形貌、分布和密度的树枝状银薄膜,从而得到了具有不同SERS性能的树枝状银纳米薄膜。选取了具有最佳SERS性能的树枝状银纳米薄膜对罗丹明6G进行了微量检测、再现性检测和稳定性检测,其检测限可达到1×10^-11 mol·L^-1,具有优良的再现性和良好的稳定性。     

三维树枝状银薄膜的可控生长及其在表面增强拉曼光谱中的应用

通过电流置换反应制备了树枝状银纳米薄膜。在反应过程中通过控制反应时间和硝酸银的浓度,得到了不同形貌、分布和密度的树枝状银薄膜,从而得到了具有不同SERS性能的树枝状银纳米薄膜。选取了具有最佳SERS性能的树枝状银纳米薄膜对罗丹明6G进行了微量检测、再现性检测和稳定性检测,其检测限可达到1×10~(-11) mol·L~(-1),具有优良的再现性和良好的稳定性。     

Sub-wavelength Raman spectroscopy on isolated silver islands

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is a valuable analytical tool for the investigation of molecules adsorbed on roughened noble metal surfaces. The shape, size, and surrounding of the metal protrusions play an important role in the Raman scattering enhancement. By combining scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) with Raman spectroscopy the spatial resolution suffices for investigating isolated silver islands on SERS active substrates. We demonstrate an optical resolution below 70 nm for recording spectra on specifically prepared and fully characterized SERS substrates. For a quantitative evaluation of the SERS signal the spatial distribution of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) deposited on the SERS substrate was determined by friction force measurements. By comparing the Raman intensities of the SERS substrates with those of unmetallized support plates absolute SERS enhancement factors at specific locations on top and in the vicinity of the silver islands were determined directly.     

Ag纳米粒子在TiO2四棱柱阵列上的可控生长及其SERS效应

采用水热法在导电玻璃FTO导电面上沉积TiO₂四棱柱阵列; 并以其为基体, 分别采用聚乙烯基吡咯 烷酮(PVP)还原Tollens试剂以及柠檬酸三钠(TSC)还原硝酸银溶液, 将Ag纳米粒子(AgNPs)沉积在TiO₂四棱柱阵列上形成TiO₂@AgNPs-PVP和TiO₂@AgNPs-TSC微纳结构作为表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底. 实验结果表明, Ag纳米粒子在TiO₂四棱柱阵列上的尺寸和分布可通过改变Tollens试剂的浓度和TSC还原硝酸银溶液的反应时间来调控, 进而优化基底的SERS灵敏度. TiO₂@AgNPs-PVP微纳结构对罗丹明6G(R6G)的检出限为10^-12 mol/L, 对低活性小分子三聚氰胺的检出限为0.01 mg/mL; TiO₂@AgNPs-TSC微纳结构对R6G的检出限为10^-10 mol/L, 对三聚氰胺的检出限为0.01 mg/mL. TiO₂@AgNPs-PVP和TiO₂@AgNPs-TSC微纳结构基底的SERS活性、 循环可回收性与还原剂种类紧密相关: 包覆在Ag纳米粒子上的PVP可以作为隔离层避免Ag纳米粒子直接接触, 防止电磁场耦合作用减弱, 增强基底的SERS活性; 同时, PVP是一种水性聚合物, 有较强的亲水性, 作为循环可回收SERS基底使用时, 吸附小分子物质清洗难度较大.     

Improved surface-enhanced Raman scattering on electrochemically roughened silver substrates prepared in bielectrolyte solutions

In this work, the effect of supplemental LiClO₄ electrolytes in KCl solutions used in roughening silver substrates by electrochemical triangular-wave oxidation-reduction cycles (ORC) on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was first investigated. To prepare SERS-active substrates by ORC procedures, electrolytes of KCl were generally employed. In contrast, LiClO₄ ones were unsuitable for producing SERS-active substrates. Encouragingly, SERS of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) adsorbed on the roughened Ag substrate prepared in an aqueous solution containing KCl and LiClO₄ electrolytes exhibits a higher intensity by one order of magnitude, as compared with that of R6G adsorbed on a roughened Ag substrate prepared in a solution only containing KCl. Further investigations indicate that the oxidation state of Cl on the roughened Ag substrate demonstrates decided effects on this improved SERS.     

银纳米粒子簇的设计、 制备和表面增强拉曼光谱

通过匹配激光光斑直径与胶体微球的尺寸, 设计制备了银纳米粒子的表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底, 并将其用于研究单个银纳米粒子簇的表面增强拉曼光谱. 在制备纳米粒子的过程中, 考察了等离子体刻蚀时间与银沉积厚度对“单”银纳米粒子结构与形貌的影响. 将吡啶、 巯基苯和罗丹明R6G作为SERS探针分子, 研究了其SERS效应, 通过荧光共振能量转移(FRET)机理, 实现了染料分子在单银纳米粒子簇上的SERS效应. SERS光谱测试与相关计算结果表明, 单个银纳米粒子簇的拉曼增强因子能够达到约10⁶.     

银表面罗丹明6G的电化学表面增强拉曼光谱研究

罗丹明6G（Rhodamine 6G,R6G）是单分子表面增强拉曼光谱（SM-SERS）研究中最常用的探针分子之一,对R6G分子在表面吸附行为的研究有助于了解R6G分子和表面的相互作用. 本文应用电化学和电化学表面增强拉曼光谱技术,研究不同电位下R6G的银电极表面的吸附行为. 结果表明,随着电位负移罗丹明6G在银表面上从垂直吸附转为倾斜吸附,该变化和碱性条件下吸附于金纳米粒子上R6G的吸附构象一致. 这说明,在部分单分子实验中所发现的R6G反常光谱其来源是单个R6G分子在表面吸附取向变化. 本研究对后续详细分析SM-SERS研究中单分子SERS谱峰变化的机制有一定的参考价值.     

Facile synthesis of two-dimensional PA-Ag@C film for highly sensitive SERS detection

In this study, the surface of polyamide (PA) films are electrostatically deposited with the carbon-coated silver (Ag@C) nanoparticles, resulting in a two-dimensional (2D) PA-Ag@C film substrate. The TEM images demonstrate that the nanoparticles were successful synthesized. By adjusting the pH of the system, the core–shell structure and the 2D SERS substrate work together to improve the sensitivity, stability, and repeatability of the substrate to be used in complex real-world water samples. The SERS enhancement effect and substrate uniformity were determined using rhodamine 6G (R6G), crystal violet (CV), and malachite green (MG). The results indicate that the 2D PA-Ag@C film substrate in this study has the optimal Raman effect at a system pH of 6. Under ideal pH conditions, the R6G detection limit (LOD) is as low as 10⁻¹⁰ M (D2 attenuation), and the Raman signal intensity deviation of the same substrate is maintained within 9.49%. Overall, the Raman signal of probe molecule on the fabricated PA-Ag@C film possesses excellent sensitivity, repeatability, and stability.     

银纳米微球和银纳米棒自组装膜的制备及SERS研究

采用硼氢化钠还原硝酸银,用振荡器在不同转速下振荡得到单分散的银纳米微球和银纳米棒,再将银纳米微球及银纳米棒自组装于被3-氨丙基-三甲氧基硅烷(APTMS)修饰的玻璃基片上,制得了具有表面增强拉曼(SERS)活性的基底,分别以罗丹明6G(R6G)和罗丹明B(RB)为探针分子对这两种基底进行SERS活性检测,结果发现这两种基底均为较理想的SERS衬底。     

Ag/ZIF-90自组装薄膜的制备及SERS活性研究

合成了金属有机框架化合物沸石咪唑框架-90(ZIF-90)溶胶和ZIF-90晶体薄膜,分别以这2种材料为基底,制备出了Ag@ZIF-90复合材料和Ag/ZIF-90自组装薄膜。通过傅里叶变换红外(FT-IR),X射线衍射(XRD),扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对产物进行表征,分析了它们的形貌和结构特征。以罗丹明6G(R 6G)作为检测分子,对所制备材料的表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)性能进行测试。结果表明制备出的Ag/ZIF-90自组装薄膜具有好的SERS性能,而ZIF-90本身的拉曼峰并不会对Ag/ZIF-90自组装薄膜对目标分子的SERS检测效果产生影响。这种材料可以作为一种良好的SERS检测基底,在农药残留检测方面具有很好的应用前景。     

Ag/ZIF-90自组装薄膜的制备及SERS活性研究

合成了金属有机框架化合物沸石咪唑框架-90(ZIF-90)溶胶和ZIF-90晶体薄膜,分别以这2种材料为基底,制备出了Ag@ZIF-90复合材料和Ag/ZIF-90自组装薄膜.通过傅里叶变换红外(FT-IR),X射线衍射(XRD),扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对产物进行表征,分析了它们的形貌和结构特征.以罗丹明6G(R 6G)作为检测分子,对所制备材料的表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)性能进行测试.结果表明制备出的Ag/ZIF-90自组装薄膜具有好的SERS性能,而ZIF-90本身的拉曼峰并不会对Ag/ZIF-90自组装薄膜的SERS检测效果产生影响.这种材料可以作为一种较好的表面增强拉曼(SERS)活性基底,在农药残留检测方面具有很好的应用前景.     

Silver Nanoparticle Thin Films with Nanocavities for Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering

The formation of nanometer‐sized gaps between silver nanoparticles is critically important for optimal enhancement in surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). A simple approach is developed to generate nanometer‐sized cavities in a silver nanoparticle thin film for use as a SERS substrate with extremely high enhancement. In this method, a submicroliter volume of concentrated silver colloidal suspension stabilized with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is spotted on hydrophobic glass surfaces prepared by the exposure of the glass to dichloromethysilane vapors. The use of a hydrophobic surface helps the formation of a more uniform silver nanoparticle thin film, and CTAB acts as a molecular spacer to keep the silver nanoparticles at a distance. A series of CTAB concentrations is investigated to optimize the interparticle distance and aggregation status. The silver nanoparticle thin films prepared on regular and hydrophobic surfaces are compared. Rhodamine 6G is used as a probe to characterize the thin films as SERS substrates. SERS enhancement without the contribution of the resonance of the thin film prepared on the hydrophobic surface is calculated as 2×10⁷ for rhodamine 6G, which is about one order of magnitude greater than that of the silver nanoparticle aggregates prepared with CTAB on regular glass surfaces and two orders of magnitude greater than that of the silver nanoparticle aggregates prepared without CTAB on regular glass surfaces. A hydrophobic surface and the presence of CTAB have an increased effect on the charge‐transfer component of the SERS enhancement mechanism. The limit of detection for rhodamine 6G is estimated as 1.0×10^?8 M . Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy are used for the characterization of the prepared substrate.     

Trace molecules detectable by surface-enhanced Raman scattering based on newly developed Ag and Au nanoparticles-containing substrates

In this work, Ag and Au nanoparticles-containing substrates were first developed for obtaining a stronger surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) intensity of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and reducing the limit of detection (LOD) of trace molecules. First, the optimum electrochemically roughening conditions employed on Ag substrates for obtaining strongest SERS of R6G were investigated. Then the optimally roughened Ag substrates were incubated in the prepared Cl- and Au-containing solutions for different couples of minutes to undergo the galvanic replacement reactions. Encouragingly, the SERS of R6G adsorbed on this roughened Ag substrate modified by the replacement of Ag with Au for 5 min exhibits a higher intensity by 8-fold of magnitude, as compared with the SERS of R6G adsorbed on an unmodified roughened Ag substrate. Moreover, the practical LOD of R6G can be reduced by one order of magnitude from 1 ppq to 0.1 ppq. Further investigations indicate that the compositions of complexes formed on the substrates demonstrate decided effects on the improved SERS.     

Strategy for obtaining improved surface-enhanced Raman scattering by combining electrochemical and plasmas technologies

In this work, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active gold substrates were first developed by combining the technologies of oxidation–reduction cycles (ORCs) and plasmas treatments in roughening metal substrates. First, a gold substrate was treated by argon plasmas. Then the treated gold substrate was further roughened by triangular-wave ORCs in an aqueous solution containing 0.1 M HCl. Encouragingly, the SERS of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) adsorbed on this roughened gold substrate modified by argon plasmas pretreatment exhibits a higher intensity by 10-fold of magnitude and a better resolution, as compared with the SERS of R6G adsorbed on an unmodified roughened gold substrate. Meanwhile, the probing concentration of R6G adsorbed on the modified substrate can be reduced by one order. It was also found that the pretreatment of argon plasmas demonstrates a positive effect on the (2 2 0) face of Au partly changing into the (1 1 1) face with the lowest surface energy after the ORCs roughening, which is contributive to the improved SERS observed.     

Silver overlayer-modified surface-enhanced Raman scattering-active gold substrates for potential applications in trace detection of biochemical species

Because Ag and Au nanoparticles (NPs) possess well-defined localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) they are popularly employed in the studies of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). As shown in the literature and in our previous studies, the advantage of SERS-active Ag NPs is their higher SERS enhancement over Au NPs. On the other hand, the disadvantage of SERS-active Ag NPs compared to Au NPs is their serious decay of SERS enhancement in ambient laboratory air. In this work, we develop a new strategy for preparing highly SERS-active Ag NPs deposited on a roughened Au substrate. This strategy is derived from the modification of electrochemical underpotential deposition (UPD) of metals. The coverage of Ag NPs on the roughened Au substrate can be as high as 0.95. Experimental results indicate that the SERS of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) observed on this developed substrate exhibits a higher intensity by ca. 50-fold of magnitude, as compared with that of R6G observed on the substrate without the deposition of Ag NPs. The limit of detection (LOD) for R6G measured on this substrate is markedly reduced to 2 × 10⁻¹⁵ M. Moreover, aging of SERS effect observed on this developed substrate is significantly depressed, as compared with that observed on a generally prepared SERS-active Ag substrate. These aging tests were performed in an atmosphere of 50% relative humidity (RH) and 20% (v/v) O₂ at 30 °C for 60 day. Also, the developed SERS-active substrate enables it practically applicable in the trace detection of monosodium urate (MSU)-containing solution in gouty arthritis without a further purification process.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering from ordered Ag nanocluster arrays

We have examined the effect of ordered silver nanocluster substrates on the surface-enhanced Raman spectrum of rhodamine 6G (R6G). Triangular shaped silver nanocluster arrays with order on the approximately 100 mum range were prepared using nanosphere lithography. Direct comparisons of R6G surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) signals between ordered nanocluster regions and amorphous Ag regions prepared under identical deposition conditions provide strong evidence of an electromagnetic field enhancement attributed to the unique nanocluster morphology. We have obtained order of magnitude enhancement factors for both 200 and 90 nm Ag nanocluster SERS substrates relative to Ag films.     

在铜箔上电辅助制备纳米银及其SERS应用研究

在电化学工作站上以铜箔为工作电极,以硝酸银和PVP混合液作为前驱溶液,利用循环伏安法电辅助制备了纳米银,得到在铜箔上紧密均匀分布的纳米银颗粒聚集体作为SERS基底。通过X射线粉末衍射、X射线光电子能谱、扫描电子显微镜等表征手段,对铜箔上负载的银纳米颗粒进行了形貌和成分的表征,探讨了PVP及电辅助方法对纳米银形貌及基底SERS活性的影响。以4-巯基吡啶和罗丹明6G为探针溶液研究了制备基底的SERS活性,同时还对基底的均匀性进行了研究,结果表明所制备的SERS基底具有良好的性能。