Thermo-responsive molecularly imprinted sensor based on the surface-enhanced Raman scattering for selective detection of R6G in the water

Abstract

In this study, a novel SERS sensor was successfully prepared by combining a molecular imprinted technique (MIT) with a SERS technique to improve the selectivity of the traditional SERS technique. Moreover, a thermo-sensitive technique was also introduced to confer stimuli-responsive properties to the materials. In a typical procedure, the Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were reduced on the surface of ZnO nanorods (NRs), and the ZnO/Ag heterostructures were used as the SERS substrates. Subsequently, a layer of thermo-sensitive imprinted polymer was coated on the surface of ZnO/Ag heterostructures to prepare the thermoresponsive ZnO/Ag/molecularly imprinted polymers (ZOA-TMIPs) by precipitation polymerization. Moreover, it was proven that the ZOA-TMIPs were regenerable and exhibited good reusability. The results proved that the materials in this study can be effectively used for residual organic dye detection in water.

Preparation of a high‐performance magnetic molecularly imprinted sensor for SERS detection of cyfluthrin in river

“…Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), as a powerful detection technology, has been wildly used into environmental pollution monitoring, medical diagnosis, chemical analysis, and biological determination . Compared with conventional detection methods, SERS possessed the characteristics of high sensitivity, no destructive, and time‐saving . In theory, the SERS enhancement models incorporate the electromagnetic field enhancement mechanism (EM) and the charge transfer EM .…”

2D MoO2/N-Doped-Carbon Nanosheets as SERS Tweezers: A Non-Noble Metal Reusable Substrate for Selective Organic Dye Detection

“…In addition to the sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, the reusability of SERS substrates is also a pressing issue for practical applications, which is generally rare for noble metal NM- as well as semiconductor NM-based SERS substrates. ,,, Herein, the as-synthesized MoO 2 /N-doped-carbon nanocomposite has been tested for three successive reusable cycles for SERS detection. During the recycling process, photocatalysis of the MoO 2 core has been verified to be helpful in the degradation of MB (1 × 10 –4 M).…”

“…Specifically, it is highly challenging to selectively recognize a specific molecule, particularly for low concentrations, from various interference molecular species present in the concerning medium of characterization. Hence, the selective SERS strategy is gaining utmost importance in this current scenario. − …”

“…Broadly, molecule-imprinting polymers (MIPs) with SERS-active substrates have significantly improved SERS selectivity besides the sensitivity for noble metal NMs. − Similar MIP strategies have been applied for selective SERS detection based on semiconductor NMs (e.g., MoO 3 , and MoS 2 ) to improve selectivity and recyclability. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of highly selective and reusable SERS substrates based on MoO 2 /N-doped-carbon NMs synthesized via a simple inorganic protocol, without any polymer encapsulation/MIPs strategy.…”

Plasmonic nanomaterials with responsive polymer hydrogels for sensing and actuation

“…In order to increase the target analyte collection efficiency in the SERS-based detection, there was utilized its selective pre-concentration at the surface silver nanoparticles by their coupling to molecular-imprinted polymer cavities and thermoresponsive pNIPAAm. 176 Binding and release of the target analyte rhodamine 6G was controlled by adjusting the pNIPAAm swelling state via the temperature. At 30 °C the target analyte was selectively captured inside the imprinted cavities with the highest affinity and the strongest Raman signal was observed, whereas at higher temperatures, this effect diminished.…”