Surface-enhanced Raman scattering for perchlorate detection using cystamine-modified gold nanoparticles

Perchlorate (ClO4−) has recently emerged as a widespread environmental contaminant found in groundwater and surface water, and there is a great need for rapid detection and monitoring of this contaminant. This study presents a new technique using cystamine-modified gold nanoparticles as a substrate for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of perchlorate at low concentrations. A detection limit of 5 × 10−6 M (0.5 mg/L) has been achieved using this method without sample preconcentration. This result was attributed to a strong plasmon enhancement by gold metal surfaces and the electrostatic attraction of ClO4− onto positively charged, cystamine-modified gold nanoparticles at a low pH. The methodology also was found to be reproducible, quantitative, and not susceptible to significant interference from the presence of anions such as sulfate, phosphate, nitrate and chloride at concentrations <1 mM, making it potentially suitable for rapid screening and routine analysis of perchlorate in environmental samples.