Eco-Friendly Plasmonic Sensors: Using the Photothermal Effect to Prepare Metal Nanoparticle-Containing Test Papers for Highly Sensitive Colorimetric Detection

Abstract

Convenient, rapid, and accurate detection of chemical and biomolecules would be a great benefit to medical, pharmaceutical, and environmental sciences. Many chemical and biosensors based on metal nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed. However, as a result of the inconvenience and complexity of most of the current preparation techniques, surface plasmon-based test papers are not as common as, for example, litmus paper, which finds daily use. In this paper, we propose a convenient and practical technique, based on the photothermal effect, to fabricate the plasmonic test paper. This technique is superior to other reported methods for its rapid fabrication time (a few seconds), large-area throughput, selectivity in the positioning of the NPs, and the capability of preparing NP arrays in high density on various paper substrates. In addition to their low cost, portability, flexibility, and biodegradability, plasmonic test paper can be burned after detecting contagious biomolecules, making them safe and eco-friendly.

Flexible Plasmonic Sensors

“…Physical vapor deposition is another viable method for fabricating flexible plasmonic NP devices, particularly when combined with laser induced particle formation [39], [40]. Zhang, R. et al showed detection of Rhodamine 6G down to 0.1nM using SERS test strips formed by physical vapor deposition [38].…”

Recent advances in low‐cost microfluidic platforms for diagnostic applications

“…Tseng et al. described a photothermal process to produce metallic nanoparticles on paper for the colorimetric detection of cysteine. A thin film of gold or silver was deposited on paper, via a sputtering method, and a KrF excimer laser melted the metal film.…”

Lab-on-a-Chip Devices and Micro-Total Analysis Systems

“…7.3b). Although these studies gained limited attention from Non-linearly positioned or folded paper devices will maintain their structural integrity Thickness (tens to hundreds of micrometres) Low (microliter) volumes of fabrication material and small sample aliquots are required (Tseng et al 2012 Adapted from Nery and Kubota (2013) industrial partners, they showed proof-of-concept for early paper-based microfluidics.…”