Designing dendronic-Raman markers for sensitive detection using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

A new approach of tuning SERS enhancement with the aid of coupling chemistry for trace detection. A greater number of Raman-active molecules are constrained in a dendronic framework as an improved SERS analyte.

Thiol-End-Group Dendrons Decorated with Gold Nanoparticles Immobilized on Amino-Functionalized Graphene Oxide for SERS Detection

“…27−31 At the same time, the addition of functionalized dendritic branched polymers can more effectively manipulate the nanoparticle arrays to obtain homogenous hotspots and enhance SERS signals. 32 In this work, developed SERS chips adopt various modification technologies (chemical synthesis and low-damage plasma treatment) to obtain a uniform dispersion of AuNPs for SERS detection. Here, the amino-functionalized graphene oxide (AGO) thin films were chosen, providing the primary amine-rich surface to graft thiol-end-group dendrons with a unique functional group (azetidine-2,4-dione) of reaction selectivity.…”

“…To reach higher sensitivity and stability of SERS detection, the researchers have devoted themselves to tuning the shape of particles or controlling the interparticle gap to obtain the homogenous and enormous hotspots effect. − The most important issue would be controlling the interparticle gap to obtain a uniform and strong hotspot effect because the electromagnetic enhancement is highly distance dependent between particles. Therefore, the construction of hotspot regions on 2D material substrates by fabricating uniform assemblies of nanoparticles is considered as frontier research in the field of SERS sensing. − At the same time, the addition of functionalized dendritic branched polymers can more effectively manipulate the nanoparticle arrays to obtain homogenous hotspots and enhance SERS signals …”