Individual nanostructured materials: fabrication and surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Prepared Sandwich structure WS2/ag@MIP composite for ultrasensitive SERS detection of trace 17β-estradiol in food

17β-E2 is used in animal growth regulation and agricultural fertilizer, and even ng L-1 mass concentration levels can show biological effects. In this work, Ag NPs was used as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) source and WS2 was synthesized by a simple method to provide a uniform distribution platform for Ag NPs. The MIP was the shell, which can selectively enrich the target molecule, pull the distance between the target molecule and SERS source, and protect Ag NPs. A cyclable SERS substrate with high sensitivity for detecting 17β-E2 in food was constructed. The optimized WS2/Ag@MIP as SERS substrate has the advantages of high Enhanced Factor (EF = 2.78 × 109), low detection limit (LOD = 0. 0958 pM), strong anti-interference ability, and good recycling performance. Moreover, the detection of 17β-E2 in real samples still has good accuracy. This work provides a new possibility for the trace detection of 17β-E2 in food.

Ultrasensitive detection strategy for CAP by molecularity imprinted SERS sensor based on multiple synergistic enhancement of SiO2@AuAg with MOFs@Au signal carrier

Chloramphenicol (CAP) residue in food can cause great harm to human health, it is important to develop a rapid and sensitive method to detect CAP. Here, molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was combined with metal-organic frameworks@Au (MOFs@Au) collaborative construction surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based aptasensor for CAP ultrasensitive detection. MOFs@Au first carried the Raman signal molecule toluidine blue (TB) and aptamer to form MOFs@Au@TB@Apt. In addition, rMIP (CAP was removed) was dropped onto the uniform three-dimensional (3D) SERS substrate SiO2@AuAg to form SiO2@AuAg@rMIP. In the presence of target CAP, it could be specifically captured with rMIP by covalent interaction and was recognised by the aptamer. During this time, SiO2@AuAg@rMIP@CAP could selectively connect MOFs@Au@TB@Apt to realise synergistic enhance the Raman signal. Based on this principle, the proposed SERS aptasensor exhibits excellent sensitivity with a detection limit of 7.59×10-13 M for CAP, providing a new strategy for trace detection in food.

Corrosion-enabled tryptophan biosensing enhancement on commercially available Mg alloy surfaces

A novel method enhances tryptophan fluorescence signals 5.45 times using a corrosion-modified magnesium alloy. Corrosion controls and stabilizes the surface morphology, resulting in a significant fluorescence enhancement. This highlights its biosensing potential with long-term stability, crucial for understanding the impact of tryptophan on metabolic and neurological disorders.

Quantitative detection of dopamine in human serum with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of constrained vibrational mode

Dopamine (DA) is a crucial neurotransmitter involved in the hormonal, nervous, and vascular systems being considered as an index to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Herein, we demonstrate the quantitative sensing of DA using the peak shift in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (4-MPBA), resulting from the concentration of DA. To enable the signal enhancement of Raman scattering, Ag nanostructure was built with one-step gas-flow sputtering. 4-MPBA was then introduced using vapor-based deposition, acting as a reporter molecule for bonding with DA. The gradual peak-shift from 1075.6 cm^-1 to 1084.7 cm^-1 was observed with the increasing concentration of DA from 1 pM to 100nM. The numerical simulation revealed that DA bonding induced a constrained vibrational mode corresponding to 1084.7 cm^-1 instead of a C-S-coupled C-ring in-plane bending mode of 4-MPBA corresponding to 1075.6 cm^-1. Proposed SERS sensors depicted reliable DA detection in human serum and good selectivity against other analytes, including glucose, creatinine, and uric acid.

Molecular–substrate interaction on dynamic SERS detection of butylated hydroxyanisole on a silver nano-tripod substrate

A SERS enhancement model with a surface adsorption effect is proposed by dynamical SERS analysis of butylated hydroxyanisole on a silver nano-tripod substrate.

Nonenzymatic Hydrogen Peroxide Detection Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering of Gold-Silver Core-Shell-Assembled Silica Nanostructures

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) plays important roles in cellular signaling and in industry. Thus, the accurate detection of H₂O₂ is critical for its application. Unfortunately, the direct detection of H₂O₂ by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is not possible because of its low Raman cross section. Therefore, the detection of H₂O₂ via the presence of an intermediary such as 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) has recently been developed. In this study, the peroxidase-mimicking activity of gold–silver core–shell-assembled silica nanostructures (SiO₂@Au@Ag alloy NPs) in the presence of TMB was investigated using SERS for detecting H₂O₂. In the presence of H₂O₂, the SiO₂@Au@Ag alloy catalyzed the conversion of TMB to oxidized TMB, which was absorbed onto the surface of the SiO₂@Au@Ag alloy. The SERS characteristics of the alloy in the TMB–H₂O₂ mixture were investigated. The evaluation of the SERS band to determine the H₂O₂ level utilized the SERS intensity of oxidized TMB bands. Moreover, the optimal conditions for H₂O₂ detection using SiO₂@Au@Ag alloy included incubating 20 µg/mL SiO₂@Au@Ag alloy NPs with 0.8 mM TMB for 15 min and measuring the Raman signal at 400 µg/mL SiO₂@Au@Ag alloy NPs.

SERS-ELISA determination of human carboxylesterase 1 using metal-organic framework doped with gold nanoparticles as SERS substrate

By in situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) within the acid-etched (AE) MIL-101 (Cr) framework, AE-MIL-101 (Cr) nanocomposites embedded with AuNPs (AuNP/AE-MIL-101 (Cr)) were prepared as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. AuNPs are uniformly distributed and stabilized inside the metal-organic framework (MOF), thus forming more SERS hotspots. The SERS performance of AuNP/AE-MIL-101 (Cr) was evaluated using 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (4-MPBA), 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA), benzidine, and rhodamine 6G (R6G). The SERS substrate displays satisfying stability with very low background signal. When benzidine is used as the Raman reporter, the limit of detection (LOD) can reach 6.7 × 10^-13 mol·L^-1, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the intra- and inter-batch repetitive tests is less than 5.2%. On this basis, we developed a method for the detection of human carboxylesterase 1 (hCE 1) in human serum using AuNP/AE-MIL-101 (Cr) nanocomposite as SERS substrate and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) colorimetric substrate as SERS marker. This method was used to determine hCE 1 in clinical serum samples without complicated sample pretreatment, and the detection results were consistent with the data determined by ELISA. In the concentration range 0.1-120 ng·mL^-1, the SERS signal intensity of benzidine at 1609 cm^-1 gradually decreases with the increase of hCE 1 concentration (R² = 0.9948). The average recoveries of hCE 1 in human serum are in the range 84 to 108%, with RSDs lower than 7.7%. By using AuNP/acid etching-MIL-101(Cr) metal organic framework (MOF) as SERS substrate and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) colorimetric substrate as the SERS marker, a rapid and sensitive method for the determination of human carboxylesterase 1 (hCE1) in human serum samples has been developed.

Glucose Detection of 4-Mercaptophenylboronic Acid-Immobilized Gold-Silver Core-Shell Assembled Silica Nanostructure by Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering

The importance of glucose in many biological processes continues to garner increasing research interest in the design and development of efficient biotechnology for the sensitive and selective monitoring of glucose. Here we report on a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of 4-mercaptophenyl boronic acid (4-MPBA)-immobilized gold-silver core-shell assembled silica nanostructure (SiO₂@Au@Ag@4-MPBA) for quantitative, selective detection of glucose in physiologically relevant concentration. This work confirmed that 4-MPBA converted to 4-mercaptophenol (4-MPhOH) in the presence of H₂O₂. In addition, a calibration curve for H₂O₂ detection of 0.3 µg/mL was successfully detected in the range of 1.0 to 1000 µg/mL. Moreover, the SiO₂@Au@Ag@4-MPBA for glucose detection was developed in the presence of glucose oxidase (GOx) at the optimized condition of 100 µg/mL GOx with 1-h incubation time using 20 µg/mL SiO₂@Au@Ag@4-MPBA and measuring Raman signal at 67 µg/mL SiO₂@Au@Ag. At the optimized condition, the calibration curve in the range of 0.5 to 8.0 mM was successfully developed with an LOD of 0.15 mM. Based on those strategies, the SERS detection of glucose can be achieved in the physiologically relevant concentration range and opened a great promise to develop a SERS-based biosensor for a variety of biomedicine applications.

One-step synthesis of gold nanoflowers of tunable size and absorption wavelength in the red & deep red range for SERS spectroscopy

We describe a novel protocol for a one-step, seed-less, organic solvent- and surfactant-free synthesis of optically dense aqueous colloids of gold nanoflowers (AuNF), with tunable absorption wavelength between 620 and 800 nm. We demonstrate that simple variation of the ratio of two reagents allows the plasmonic band position to be tuned to any desired wavelength ± 5 nm, namely to those of the laser sources commonly used for SERS spectroscopy. The AuNF size distribution was sufficiently narrow, comparable to that known with seed-mediated synthesis. The AuNF have been validated as efficient aggregation-free substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy using two common fluorescent dyes, Nile Blue and Crystal Violet, both thiol-free. Their fluorescence was quenched and SERS signal intensity was a linear function of the dye concentration, from nanomolar to micromolar range. Easy to prepare and to use, these AuNF appear as a particularly user-friendly and efficient way to obtain plasmonic substrates for SERS in the red and deep red spectral range.

Magnetic Assembly Route to Construct Reproducible and Recyclable SERS Substrate

The fabrication of a uniform array film through assembly of colloidal building blocks is of practical interest for the integrated individual and collective functions. Here, a magnetic assembly route was put forward to organize monodisperse noble metal microspheres into a uniform array film for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) application, which demonstrated the integrated signal sensitivity of single noble metal microspheres and reproducibility of their assembled uniform array film. For this purpose, monodisperse multifunctional Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2@Ag (FOSTA) colloidal microspheres as building blocks were successfully synthesized through a homemade ultrasonic-assisted reaction system. When used in SERS test, these multifunctional microspheres could firstly bind the analyte (R6G) from solution and then assembled into a uniform film under an external magnetic field, which exhibited high SERS detection sensitivity with good reproducibility. In addition, due to the TiO2 interlayer in FOSTA colloidal microspheres, the building blocks could be recycled and self cleaned through photocatalytic degradation of the adsorbed analyte for recycling SERS application.

Synthesis of uniform Ag nanosponges and its SERS application

With the aid of amino acid, various Ag nanostructures were successfully synthesized via the reaction between silver nitrate and hydrazine hydrate at room temperature. The as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the morphology of the as-prepared Ag products depended on the sorts of amino acid and solvents. The uniform Ag nanosponges could be obtained in glycol with aid of glycine. Using rhodamine 6G (R6G) as probe, the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance was also investigated, which showed that the uniform Ag nanosponges exhibited an intensive and enhanced Raman scattering. Pazufloxacin mesilate (PM) were detected conveniently using these uniform nanosponges as SERS substrates. The present work might afford some guidance for the rationally controllable synthesis of other metal nanomaterials.

Core-Shell Au@Metal-Organic Frameworks for Promoting Raman Detection Sensitivity of Methenamine

Abuse of methenamine in foodstuff is harmful to the health of people. Routine methods recommended by the national standard are indirect assays with complicated pretreatment of samples or less sensitivity. In this work, core-shell Au nanoparticles@inositol hexaphosphate@MIL-101(Fe) nanoparticles, designated as Au@MIL-101, are successfully synthesized by layer-by-layer assembly. Metal-organic framework (MOF; MIL-101)-modified AuNPs could narrow the distance between neighboring Au@MIL-101, which increases the amount of "hot spots" and contributes excellent enhancement of Raman scattering. In addition, certain target molecules could access the proximity to the "hot spots" by the strong interaction capability of MOF with -COOH groups. Taking the syngeneic effect of "hot spots" and chemical enhancement via specific binding, Au@MIL-101-based Raman protocol with huge sensitivity is developed to achieve direct detection of methenamine. It has good linearity of dynamic concentration from 3.16 × 10^-6 to 1.0 × 10^-8 M with correlation coefficient ( R²) of 0.9908. The limit of detection reaches 5.0 × 10^-10 M. As a practical application, such an Au@MIL-101-based Raman protocol could be used for the direct determination of trace methenamine in vermicelli, which meets the requirements of the national standard.

Controlled synthesis of Cu nanoparticle arrays with surface enhanced Raman scattering effect performance

Herein, we report the synthesis of a 350 nm Cu nanoparticle array with different period combinations by a method based on a monolayer and have further investigated its surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties experimentally.

A new heterostructured SERS substrate: free-standing silicon nanowires decorated with graphene-encapsulated gold nanoparticles

Heterostructures of one-dimensional nanowire supported graphene/plasmonic nanoparticles are promising for future SERS-based chemical sensors. In this paper, we report a novel heterostructured SERS substrate composed of free-standing Si nanowires and surface-decorating Au/graphene nanoparticles. We successfully developed a unique CVD approach for the cost-effective and large-scale growth of free-standing Si nanowires. Au nanoparticles were decorated on the Si nanowires using a galvanic deposition - an annealing approach. This was followed by the selective growth of a multilayer graphene shell on the Au nanoparticles via a xylene-based CVD approach. Discrete dipole approximation simulation was used to understand the plasmonic properties of these Si nanowire-based heterostructures. The results indicate that the incorporation of Au nanoparticles and graphene on Si nanowires has a significant influence on their light absorption and scattering properties. Meanwhile, a strong surface plasmon coupling was observed at the interface regions of different materials (e.g., Si/Au, Au/graphene), introducing multiple co-enhanced "hot spots" on the heterostructures. We found that our new heterostructures have a combined effect of an electromagnetic mechanism and a chemical mechanism for SERS and demonstrate an enhancement factor of 10⁶-10⁷.

Au Nanoparticles Immobilized on Honeycomb-Like Polymeric Films for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Detection

We have successfully developed novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates with three-dimensional (3D) porous structures for effectively improving the sensitivity and reproducibility of SERS, which can rapidly detect small molecules (rhodamine 6G as an example). Periodical arrays of the honeycomb-like substrates were fabricated by self-assembling polyurethane-co-azetidine-2,4-dione (PU-PAZ) polymers. PU-PAZ comprising amphiphilic dendrons could stabilize the phase separation between the water droplets and polymer solution, and then organize into regular porous structures during the breath figure method. Subsequently, SERS substrates were fabricated by immobilizing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto the honeycomb-like films with various 3D porous structures, controlled by the different PU-PAZ concentrations and relative humidities. Results show that surface enhancement factors of honeycomb-like substrates were 20 times higher than that of flat-film substrates (control group) due to enormous hot-spots resonance effects by the 3D porous structure, verified through Raman mapping at various positions of the z-axis. Furthermore, the particle size effects were evaluated by immobilized 12 and 67 nm of AuNPs on the honeycomb-like substrates, indicating larger AuNPs could induce more pronounced hot-spots effects. The generation of hot-spots resonance to enhance Raman intensity is strongly dependent on the diameter of AuNPs and the pore size of the honeycomb-like and 3D porous substrates for label-free and rapid SERS detection.

Structure-dependent SERS activity of plasmonic nanorattles with built-in electromagnetic hotspots

We investigate the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity of plasmonic nanorattles obtained through different degrees of galvanic replacement of Au@Ag nanocubes.

Universal substrates based on Ag colloidal particles for routine surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectral measurements

We developed a simple method to fabricate sensitive and stable substrates that can be used in the routine surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectral measurements.

Synthesis, characterization and application of TiO2/Ag recyclable SERS substrates

In this paper, rutile and anatase TiO₂/Ag nanocomposites were prepared by a facile and green photochemical method.

Sensitive Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering-Based Detection of a BIGH3 Point Mutation Associated with Avellino Corneal Dystrophy

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is highly useful for sensitive analytical sensing; however, its practical availability for detecting a point mutation associated with disease in clinical sample was rarely proved. Herein, we present a toehold-mediated, DNA displacement-based, SERS sensor for detecting point mutations in the BIGH3 gene associated with the most common corneal dystrophies (CDs) in a clinical setting. To diagnose Avellino corneal dystrophy (ACD), selectivity was ensured by exploring optimal DNA displacement conditions such as length of toehold and hybridization temperature. A SERS-efficient Ag@Au bimetallic nanodendrite was employed to ensure sensitivity. Optimization for a clinical setting showed that discrimination was maximized when toehold length was 6-mer (T6), and hybridization temperature was 36 °C. On the basis of tests that used clinical homozygous and heterozygous CD samples, a single-base mismatched DNA sequence was identifiable within 30 min with a limit of detection (LOD) of 400 fM. From the results, we conclude that our toehold-mediated, DNA displacement-based, SERS sensor allows a rapid and sensitive detection of a BIGH3 gene point mutation associated with Avellino corneal dystrophy, indicating the practical ability of the method to diagnose genetic diseases caused by point mutations.

Fabrication of silver nanoparticles embedded into polyvinyl alcohol (Ag/PVA) composite nanofibrous films through electrospinning for antibacterial and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activities

Silver nanoparticle-embedded polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers were prepared through electrospinning technique, using as antimicrobial agents and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in liquid phase, followed by evenly dispersing in PVA solution. After electrospinning of the mixed solution at room temperature, the PVA embedded with Ag NPs (Ag/PVA) composite nanofibers were obtained. The morphologies and structures of the as-synthesized Ag nanoparticles and Ag/PVA fibers were characterized by the techniques of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Ag NPs have an average diameter of 13.8nm, were found to be uniformly dispersed in PVA nanofibers. The Ag/PVA nanofibers provided robust antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) microorganisms. It's also found that Ag/PVA nanofibers make a significant contribution to the high sensitivity of SERS to 4-mercaptophenol (4-MPh) molecules.

Smart surface-enhanced Raman scattering traceable drug delivery systems

A novel smart nanoparticle-based system has been developed for tracking intracellular drug delivery through surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). This new drug delivery system (DDS) shows targeted cytotoxicity towards cancer cells via pH-cleavable covalent carboxylic hydrazone links and the SERS tracing capability based on gold@silica nanocarriers. Doxorubicin, as a model anticancer drug, was employed to compare SERS with conventional fluorescence tracing approaches. It is evident that SERS demonstrates higher sensitivity and resolution, revealing intracellular details, as the strengths of the original Raman signals can be amplified by SERS. Importantly, non-destructive SERS will provide the designed DDS with great autonomy and potential to study the dynamic procedures of non-fluorescent drug delivery into living cells.

In situ Transmission Electron Microscopy observation of Ag nanocrystal evolution by surfactant free electron-driven synthesis

The study of the interaction of electron irradiation with matter and the response of the material to the passage of electrons is a very challenging problem. However, the growth mechanism observed during nanostructural evolution appears to be a broad and promising scientific field in nanotechnology. We report the in situ TEM study of nanostructural evolution of electron-driven silver (Ag) nanocrystals through an additive-free synthetic procedure. Observations revealed the direct effect of the electron beam on the morphological evolution of Ag nanocrystals through different mechanisms, such as mass transport, site-selective coalescence, and an appropriate structural configuration after coalescence leading to a more stable configuration. A fundamental understanding of the growth and formation mechanisms of Ag nanocrystals, which interact with the electron beam, is essential to improve the nanocrystal shape-control mechanisms as well as the future design and study of nanomaterials.

Highly Sensitive and Reproducible SERS Performance from Uniform Film Assembled by Magnetic Noble Metal Composite Microspheres

To realize highly sensitive and reproducible SERS performance, a new route was put forward to construct uniform SERS film by using magnetic composite microspheres. In the experiment, monodisperse Fe3O4@SiO2@Ag microspheres with hierarchical surface were developed and used as building block of SERS substrate, which not only realized fast capturing analyte through dispersion and collection under external magnet but also could be built into uniform film through magnetically induced self-assembly. By using R6G as probe molecule, the as-obtained uniform film exhibited great improvement on SERS performance in both sensitivity and reproducibility when compared with nonuniform film, demonstrating the perfect integration of high sensitivity of hierarchal noble metal microspheres and high reproducibility of ordered microspheres array. Furthermore, the as-obtained product was used to detect pesticide thiram and also exhibited excellent SERS performance for trace detection.

Effects of Organomontmorillonite Content on Morphology and Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)/Polyamide-66 Nanocomposites

The nanocomposites consisting of polymer matrix and nanofiller have attracted great attention because of the improved physical properties. In this paper, organomontmorillonite (OMMT) was introduced into poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) grafted maleic anhydride (PPO-g-MA) compatibilized poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)/polyamide-66 (PPO/PA66) blends by melt extrusion. The morphology of PPO/PA66 nanocomposites with different amounts of OMMT was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The OMMT platelets exhibited an exfoliated structure in the PA66 matrix and an intercalated structure on the surface of PPO domains at low OMMT loading (2 phr). However, the exfoliated platelets in matrix were found to transform into intercalated stacks by adding 6 phr of OMMT. The mechanical properties and thermal stability were significantly improved with the coexistence of exfoliated and intercalated OMMT at low OMMT loading (2–4 phr). The exfoliated OMMT platelets imposed a confinement effect on the macromolecular chains and thereby increased the storage modulus and complex viscosity of nanocomposites.

Silver nanoparticle functionalized glass fibers for combined surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS)/surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) mass spectrometry via plasmonic/thermal hot spots

Closely-packed silver nanoparticles with a size of 20–50 nm and an inter-particle nanoscale gap of less than 10 nm were effective for a simultaneously enhanced SERS/SALDI substrate via plasmonic/thermal “hot spots”.

Mycofabrication of common plasmonic colloids, theoretical considerations, mechanism and potential applications

A coupling of the plasmon on the surface of metal nanoparticles with an incident photon enhances a broad range of useful optical phenomena, such as resonant light scattering (RLS), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) or Raman scattering. Due to these unique optical properties plasmonic nanostructures of different sizes and shapes have gained increasing popularity in areas such as cancer diagnosis, photothermal therapy as well as the imaging of living cells, detection of pathogens, biomolecules, metal ions, and the catalysis of various reactions in wet chemistry. This article reviews the current trends in the synthesis of plasmonic nanoparticles, particularly gold (AuNPs) and silver (AgNPs), using fungi as well as the proposed mechanisms for their mycofabrication. We provide an overview of the theoretical concepts of plasmonic nanoparticles which are sensitive electromagnetic responses that determine these nanoparticles applications.

Graphene-based hybrid films for plasmonic sensing

Graphene, a one-atomic-layer-thick planar sheet of sp(2)-bonded carbon configured in a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice, has attracted considerable research interest with regard to sensing-related applications owing to its extraordinary electronic, optical, chemical, and mechanical properties. Graphene plasmonics may be excited in the mid-infrared-to-terahertz regions with high spatial confinement, low loss, and excellent tunability. Meanwhile, graphene can be utilized to tune the plasmonic properties of conventional metallic nanostructures in the visible and near-infrared regions, allowing it to act as a versatile component in various plasmonic applications. This article reviews the recent progress in graphene-based hybrid films used for plasmonic sensing and detection. We particularly emphasize on the unique roles and advantages of graphene in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for bare graphene or graphene-metal hybrid films, and plasmonic refractive index (RI) sensing for graphene-metal or graphene-insulator hybrids, among other plasmonic sensing applications. The preparation of graphene-based hybrid films, their functionalization and signal detection techniques are also reviewed. Finally, the perspectives and current challenges in the use of graphene-based hybrid films for plasmonic sensing are outlined.

Optimized core-shell Au@Ag nanoparticles for label-free Raman determination of trace Rhodamine B with cancer risk in food product

A simple and reliable method based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with a portable Raman system is described for sensitive determination of trace levels of Rhodamine B (RB) in hot sauce samples. The sodium salt of phytic acid (IP6) stabilized Au@Ag core-shell bimetallic nanoparticles are constructed and used as SERS substrate, yielding high Raman enhancement of RB. The limit of detection for RB in water is 5 nM (2 ppb), which is below China Exit and Entry Inspection and Quarantine Bureau's tolerance level of 5 ppb. Also, the proposed easy assay of IP6-Au@Ag NPs combining with portable Raman system could be applied for on-site monitoring RB in hot sauce.

Effect of adsorbed molecules on surface-enhanced Raman scattering of metal/molecule/metal junctions

Effect of microenvironments on molecular junctions can be elucidated by variation in surface-enhanced Raman scattering of 4-aminothiophenol interconnected in silver/4-aminothiophenol/silver junctions modified with different molecules.

Morphological evolution of gold nanoparticles on silicon nanowires and their plasmonics

One-dimensional heterostructures composed of silicon (Si) nanowires and uniformly decorated with gold (Au) nanoparticles were fabricated and used as a substrate for organic detection based on the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

BiOCl/SnS2 hollow spheres for the photocatalytic degradation of waste water

A kind of novel SnS₂-incorporated BiOCl hollow spheres are synthesized. The band structure tuning effect and the morphological benefits of the hollow sphere structure greatly improved the performance in photocatalysis.

Highly monodispersed Ag embedded SiO2 nanostructured thin film for sensitive SERS substrate: growth, characterization and detection of dye molecules

Highly monodispersed Ag embedded SiO₂ nanostructured thin films have been synthesized and their sensitivity towards SERS investigated.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering behaviour of 4-mercaptophenyl boronic acid on assembled silver nanoparticles

SERS properties of 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (4-MPBA) on AgNPs were studied systematically; a self-condensation reaction of 4-MPBA, competitor of the binding of glucose, was found to preferentially happen at higher pH values.

Gel-limited synthesis of dumbbell-like Fe3O4-Ag composite microspheres and their SERS applications

A novel gel-limited strategy was developed to synthesize dumbbell-like Fe3O4-Ag composite microspheres through a simple one-pot solvothermal method. In such a reaction system, a special precursor solution containing oleic, water, ethanol and silver ions was used and transformed into a bulk gel under heating at the very beginning of the reaction, thus all the subsequent reactions proceeded in the interior of the gel. The gel-limited reactions had two advantages, on the one hand, the magnetic Fe3O4 microspheres were fixed in the gel which avoided them aggregating together, whereas on the other hand, the silver ions stored in the gel could be gradually released and tended to diffuse towards the nearest Fe3O4 microsphere, which favored the generation of a dumbbell-like Fe3O4-Ag structure. From the time-dependent experiments under optimal conditions, the typical growth process of dumbbell-like structures clearly demonstrated that a silver seed first appeared on the surface of a single Fe3O4 microsphere, which then grew bigger slowly and finally formed a dumbbell-like Fe3O4-Ag structure. Moreover, the formation of the gel was found to be strongly affected by the ratio of water and ethanol in the precursor solution, which further influenced the morphologies of the Fe3O4-Ag microspheres. Furthermore, the effect of lattice match between Fe3O4 and Ag on the final products was also proven from the control experiments by using a template with a different surface crystalline structure. When used as SERS substrates, the final dumbbell-like Fe3O4-Ag microspheres show fast magnetic separation and the selective detection of thiram for the surface capped oleic chain during the growth process.

Green synthesis of large-scale highly ordered core@shell nanoporous Au@Ag nanorod arrays as sensitive and reproducible 3D SERS substrates

We present a simple green synthetic approach to large-scale and highly ordered arrays of vertical nanoporous Au nanorods, with an ultrathin Ag-layer in situ electrodeposited on each nanoporous Au nanorod (denoted as core@shell nanoporous Au@Ag nanorod). As both the nanopores within each nanorod and the gaps between the neighboring nanorods create three-dimensional (3D) "hot spots" homogeneously distributed throughout the whole substrate, the core@shell nanoporous Au@Ag nanorod arrays were proved to be sensitive and reproducible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. Not only universal probe molecules (rhodamine 6G, R6G) but also nonadsorbing molecules (polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs) have been detected by using the substrates. After mono-6-thio-β-cyclodextrin (HS-β-CD) was modified to efficiently capture more PCBs molecules, the detection limit of PCBs was further reduced to 5.35 × 10(-7) M. As a trial of practical application, R6G and PCBs with different molar ratios in their mixed solutions were identified, and two congeners of PCBs in their mixture could also be distinguished, showing great potentials in real-time simultaneous detection of multiple pollutants.

Gold-decorated titania nanotube arrays as dual-functional platform for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

In this report, we demonstrate gold-decorated titania nanotube arrays (Au-TNA substrate) as a dual-functional platform for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS). The Au nanoparticles are grown on the substrate using vapor deposition of Au. The resulting substrates perform better than Au colloids in terms of the reproducibility of the SERS measurements, long-term stability of the fabricated structures, and clean surface of the Au. The nanostructure of the Au-TNA substrate was designed to optimize the SALDI-MS and SERS performance. Excellent reproducibility of the SERS measurements using the Au-TNA substrate was obtained, with a standard error less than 6 %. SALDI activity was also demonstrated for the same Au-TNA substrates. Finally, the Au-TNA substrate was used for combined SERS and SALDI-MS analysis (i) to discriminate the structural isomers of pyridine compounds (para-, meta-, and ortho-pyridinecarboxylic acid) and (ii) to detect polycarbamate, a dithiocarbamate fungicide. These results are difficult to obtain using either approach alone.

Highly effective hot spots for SERS signatures of live fibroblasts

Pre-formed silver-boron nanoparticles of 22 nm form pearl-like necklace nanostructures with interparticle junctions of less than 10 nm length in the matrix of polyethylene glycol (8000 Da). The silver necklace nanostructure is stable at 37 °C or 70 °C and also inside a live cell medium. A polyethylene glycol matrix with a shorter chain length (1000 Da) does not protect the nanoparticles against attraction, and random aggregates are formed. Silver necklace nanostructures exhibit strong Raman enhancement by more than ∼10(9) which is much higher than for silver-citrate or random silver-boron aggregates. The polymeric matrix of 8000 Da contributes strongly to the electromagnetic field enhancement and removes the chemical contribution to the surface Raman scattering increase. The stable interparticle junctions act as local hot spots for strong Raman scattering signals collected from live fibroblasts and allow systematic in situ studies.

Mesoporous nano/micro noble metal particles: synthesis and applications

The morphology, size and composition often govern the physical and chemical properties of noble metal units with a size in the nano or micro scale. Thus, the controlled growth of noble metal crystals would help to tailor their unique properties and this would be followed by their practical application. Mesoporous nano/micro noble metal units are types of nanostructured material that have fascinating properties that can generate great potential for various applications. This review presents a general view on the growth mechanisms of porous noble metal units and is focused on recent progresses in their synthetic approaches. Then, their potential applications in the field of drug delivery, cell imaging and SERS substrates, as well as fuel cell catalysts are overviewed.