title: SERS substrate for detection of explosives.
abstract: A novel gold coated femtosecond laser nanostructured sapphire surface - an "optical nose"    - based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for detecting vapours of explosive substances was investigated. Four different nitroaromatic vapours at room temperature were tested. Sensor responses were unambiguous and showed response in the range of 0.05-15 μM at 25 °C. The laser fabricated substrate nanostructures produced up to an eight-fold increase in Raman signal over that observed on the unstructured portions of the substrate. This work demonstrates a simple sensing system that is compatible with commercial manufacturing practices to detect taggants in explosives which can undertake as part of an integrated security or investigative mission.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Science and Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4001, QLD, Australia. alison.chou@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jaatinen
authors.forename: Ricardas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buividas
authors.forename: Gediminas
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seniutinas
authors.forename: Saulius
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Juodkazis
authors.forename: Emad L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Izake
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Fredericks
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000032:analysis; D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D009578:Nitrobenzenes / Q000032:analysis; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: C509872:2,4-dinitrobenzene; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D053834:Explosive Agents; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; C019498:4-nitroaniline; C016403:2,4-dinitrotoluene; D006046:Gold; C036077:nitrobenzene