title: Ag-nanoparticles on UF-microsphere as an ultrasensitive SERS substrate with unique features for rhodamine 6G detection.
abstract: Urea and formaldehyde (UF) microsphere (MS) adsorbing Ag nanoparticles (NPs) was employed as a surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for rhodamine 6G (R6G) detection. The UF MSs and citrate-reduced Ag colloid supplying Ag NPs are synthesized separately and all the subsequent fabrication procedure is then implemented within 2 mL centrifuge tube. Influences of the composition and drying temperature of the UF MSs and the drying method and modification of AgNP/UFMS on the final SERS performance have first been reported. Excess formaldehyde useful in the formation of UF MSs again plays an important role in the SERS detection. Some interesting phenomena in the approach, such as swelling/deswelling of UF MSs and R6G diffusion within hydrophilic environment of UF MSs, are found to be of variable factors affecting the SERS performance. The substrate AgNP/UFMS confidently achieves a detection limit of 10(-13) M R6G and can be used as a simple and effective platform in the SERS spectroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China. Electronic address: haozhixian@tongji.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhixian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
authors.forename: Mulati
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mansuer
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhirong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaogang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008863:Microspheres; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012492:Salts / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012235:Rhodamines; D012492:Salts; C026188:rhodamine 6G; D005557:Formaldehyde; D012834:Silver; D014508:Urea
keywords: Ag nanoparticles; Hydrophilic; SERS; Swelling; UF microsphere