title: Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of organic molecules adsorbed on metallic nanoparticles.
abstract: The improvements in Raman instrumentation have led to the development of -portable, simple to operate, Raman instruments that can be used for on-site analysis of substances relevant for homeland security purposes such as chemical and biological warfare and explosives materials.Raman spectroscopy, however, suffers from limited sensitivity which can be overcome by Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). SERS can enhance the Raman signal of a target molecule by 6-10 orders of magnitude. The increased sensitivity, together with Raman's molecular recognition capabilities and the availability of portable Raman instruments make SERS a powerful analytical tool for on site detection.In this work we studied the effect of target molecules and SERS-active substrate properties on the obtained SERS, using a field portable Raman spectrometer. Also reported herein is the SERS detection of the chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard (HD, 2,2 dichloroethyl sulfide). This study may serve as a basis for the development of SERS platform for homeland security purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, Israel. veredhs@iibr.gov.il
authors.forename: Vered
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Heleg-Shabtai
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zifman
authors.forename: Shai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kendler
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D019817:Benzoic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D002951:Citrates / Q000737:chemistry; D003102:Colloids; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000737:chemistry; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D002951:Citrates; D003102:Colloids; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold; D019817:Benzoic Acid; C016367:benzyl sulfide; D009151:Mustard Gas