Photochemical method for decoration of silver nanoparticles on filter paper substrate for SERS application

Abstract

A facile photoreduction strategy to attach silver nanoparticles on filter paper (AgNPs@FP) to form surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate array was proposed and examined. As prepared, SERS substrate array was applied to detect low concentration of adenine and other nucleobases in aqueous solutions. In addition, the formed SERS substrate array allows mass analysis of aqueous samples with a requirement of only 10 μL in sample volume. To optimize and understand the parameters in preparations, factors such as the concentrations of citrate and silver nitrate, photoreduction time, and concentration of sodium hydroxide were varied and examined. Para‐nitrothiophenol was used as a Raman probe molecule and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the substrates were used to explore the influences of experimental factors in the preparation of SERS array. Results indicated that silver ions could be effectively reduced and deposited in/on filter paper with the presence of citrate. The formed AgNPs@FP exhibits a three‐dimensional structure as the particles formed on and beneath the surface of the cellulosic fibers could be observed. Deposition of analyte on restricted substrate array rendered reproducible results and the spot‐to‐spot SERS intensity varied within 8%. At optimal conditions, the substrate enhancement factor approached 107. We demonstrated that the filter paper‐based SERS substrates can be used as a suitable tool for biological analysis, and a limit of detection better than 160 nM was obtained in detection of adenine molecules in aqueous solutions with a linear range up to 20 μM. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Recent advances in linear and non‐linear Raman spectroscopy. Part IX

“…Rajapandiyan and co‐workers reported a new photochemical method for the decoration of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on filter‐paper substrates for SERS applications. They demonstrate that the filter paper‐based SERS substrates can be used as a suitable tool for biological analyses, and a limit of detection better than 160 nM was obtained for the detection of adenine molecules in aqueous solutions with a linear range up to 20 μM . Retko et al .…”

A “drop‐wipe‐test” SERS method for rapid detection of pesticide residues in fruits

“…In recent years, a paper‐based device has emerged as a promising SERS substrate because of its portability and simplicity. Various preparation methods have been reported, including inkjet printing, chemical reactions, and soaking method . This kind of substrate exactly make up the disadvantages in pesticide detection such as the complexity of analyte extraction and surface damage of samples.…”

Sensitive Detection of Biomolecules by Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering using Plant Leaves as Natural Substrates

“…These interact with analytes and abundant nanometer level gaps to dramatically enhance the local electromagnetic fields upon excitation by incident laser. In the recent years, biodegradable substrates, such as biological fibers have been used to create 3D templates for decoration of plasmonic nanostructures [20]. There are also some reports where paper made up of cellulose fibers has been employed to create the 3D templates for the SERS applications.…”