title: Towards deep-UV surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy of explosives: ultrasensitive, real-time and reproducible detection of TNT.
abstract: We report ultrasensitive and label-free detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) deposited by drop coating using deep-ultraviolet surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (DUV-SERRS). Well-defined aluminum nanoparticle arrays as the SERRS substrate at 257 nm excitation wavelength enabled highly reproducible and real-time detection of TNT down to the detection limit of the attogram level in quantity. This extreme sensitivity can be further improved by optimization of the nanostructured substrates. DUV-SERRS promises to have a large impact on public safety and security, as it can be readily extended to other explosives and hazardous materials.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Metal Physics and Technology, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland. yasin.ekinci@psi.ch.
authors.forename: Shankar K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.forename: Yasin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ekinci
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agio
authors.forename: Jörg F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Löffler