Rapid and sensitive detection of uranyl ion with citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles by the surface-enhanced Raman scattering technique

Abstract

Uranium contamination poses a huge threat to human health due to its widespread use in the nuclear industry and weapons. We proposed a simple and convenient wet-state SERS method for uranyl detection based on the citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles. The effect of citrate on the detection performance was also discussed. By using the citrate as an internal reference to normalize the peak of uranyl, a quantitative analysis was achieved and a good linear relationship of uranyl concentration from 0.2 to 5 µM with the limit of detection of 60 nM was obtained. With its simplicity, convenience and cost-effectiveness, this method has great potential for the detection of other molecules also.

Research progress of SERS on uranyl ions and uranyl compounds: a review

“…Furthermore, to improve the feasibility of the quantitative analysis of uranyl ions based on the SERS technique, J. L. Jiang et al fabricated citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles. 37 Herein, the citrate was used as an interior label to normalize the Raman intensity of uranyl ions. Thus, a good linear relationship between uranyl concentration and normalized SERS intensity was obtained with a wide range from 2 Â 10 À7 to 5 Â 10 À6 mol L À1 , and the LOD was 6 Â 10 À8 mol L À1 (Fig.…”

“…So far, a number of articles have focused on the trace analysis of uranyl ions and uranyl compounds based on the SERS technique since S. Dai et al first put forward the SERS effect of uranyl ions. 33 Most of the SERS substrates are gold or silver nanostructures, including silver-doped sol-gel films, 33,34 silver and gold nanoparticles, [35][36][37] surfacefunctionalized silver and gold nanoparticles, [38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] nanofabricated ellipse-sphere dimer, 49 silver nanorods, 50,51 inert materialwrapped silver nanorods, 52,53 Ag 2 O aggregates, 54 and DNAmodified silver and gold nanostructures. [55][56][57][58][59] In order to improve the SERS intensity of uranyl ions as much as possible, it is essential to elucidate the SERS mechanisms of uranyl ions on gold and silver nanostructures.…”

Gold Nanostar Spatial Distribution Impacts the Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection of Uranyl on Amidoximated Polymers

“…2,29 As such, reproducible uranyl quantification depends on the optical density of the plasmonic nanostructures in the probe volume. 2,12,24,25,30 Previously, we demonstrated that uranyl detection and quantification are possible in various sample matrices using amidoximated polyacrylonitrile (AO PAN) electrospun polymers and carboxylated gold nanostars. 16 Because the AO PAN polymers successfully isolated uranyl from solution before SERS-active substrates were introduced to the sensor, sample matrix effects were minimized.…”

“…Gold nanostars are a common substrate for the trace detection of small molecules using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) because of the large electric fields generated at their positive and negative curvature regions. − The optical properties of gold nanostars correlate to SERS and are often monitored using localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy. ,− The electric fields that extend from the nanostar surfaces arise from the LSPR, which leads to electromagnetically enhanced Raman signals for molecules in these fields. , LSPR spectral features vary with nanoparticle composition, − shape, , and size; , so SERS enhancements also depend on these same parameters. In addition to solution-phase measurements, gold nanostars have been deposited onto polymers, , glass, and paper , for sensor development, but the surface roughness and chemistry of these substrates often influence the optical properties , and spatial distribution , of gold nanostars, thereby limiting quantitative molecular detection.…”

Ultrasensitive detection of UO22+ based on dopamine‐functionalized MoOx quantum dots

“…Conventional analytical methods for uranium, including atomic absorption spectrometry, laser‐induced kinetic phosphorimetry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, Raman spectrometry etc. [ 2–5 ] have satisfactory sensitivity and selectivity, but the need for expensive instrumentation, sophisticated sample pretreatments, and highly trained personnel limits the application for portable and on‐site detection. Towards portable and on‐site detection of uranium, great progress has been achieved in the development of colorimetry, [ 6,7 ] fluorescence, [ 1,8,9 ] and electrochemistry [ 10–12 ] techniques, and in seeking new uranium receptors, such as uranium‐specific DNAzyme, [ 13–15 ] complicated organic molecules, [ 16 ] peptides, [ 17,18 ] and so on.…”