title: Self-assembly of Au nanoparticles on PMMA template as flexible, transparent, and highly active SERS substrates.
abstract: We report a simple and rapid method for fabricating a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate, which offers good flexibility, excellent optical transparency, and high SERS activity. Specifically, the SERS substrate (AuNPs/PMMA film) was obtained through self-assembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on newborn poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) template. The UV-vis spectroscopy analysis and scanning electron microscopy observation revealed that the gold nanoparticles were closely assembled on the flexible and transparent PMMA template. The fabricated AuNPs/PMMA film SERS substrate allowed detection of model molecule, malachite green isothiocyanate, at a concentration as low as 0.1 nM, and exhibited good reproducibility in the SERS measurement. The Raman enhancement factor (EF) of the AuNPs/PMMA film was found to be as high as (2.4 ± 0.3) × 10(7). In addition, measure of residual malachite green on fish surface was carried out, and the result indicated that the AuNPs/PMMA film had great potential in the in situ ultrasensitive detection of analyte on irregular objects.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Lu-Bin
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Yu-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-Xia
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Fang-Hong
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000032:analysis*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes / Q000032:analysis*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C005095:malachite green; C037152:isothiocyanic acid; D006046:Gold; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate