Robust, flexible, sticky and high sensitive SERS membrane for rapid detection applications

Up to date, many efforts have been done to improve the performance of surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS) substrates, but the fabrication of a stable, sensitive and uniform SERS substrate in a simple way also remains a challenge. In this work, we report a very convenient way to prepare a durable, uniform, flexible and sticky SERS substrate by dropping noble metal nanoparticles colloids on highly transparent fluorescent quantitative PCR sealing membranes, designated as HTFQ-PCR-M. HTFQ-PCR-M based SERS substrate exhibits high sensitivity, superior reproducibility, good stability and thermal stability. We apply such to directly collect thiram pesticide residues on the peel of fruit and do Raman measurement, to analyze dividually methylene blue and rhodamine B in mixture by the aid of thin layer chromatography plate via “paste and peel off” approach. Moreover, HTFQ-PCR-M based SERS substrate can keep its SERS activity at 90℃. As a perspective, HTFQ-PCR-M based SERS substrate could offer a great practical potential for on-spot identification of trace target molecules in various real samples.