Quantitative surface enhanced Raman scattering detection based on the “sandwich” structure substrate

A sandwich structured substrate was designed for quantitative molecular detection using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), in which the probe molecule was sandwiched between silver nanoparticles (SNPs) and silver nanoarrays. The SNPs was prepared using Lee–Meisel method, and the silver nanoarrays was fabricated on porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) using electrodepositing method. The SERS studies show that the sandwich structured substrate exhibits good stability and reproducibility, and the detection sensitivity of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and Melamine can respectively reach up to 10−19 M and 10−9 M, which is improved greatly as compared to other SERS substrates. The improved SERS sensitivity is closely associated with the stronger electromagnetic field enhancement, which stems from localized surface plasmon (LSP) coupling between the two silver nanostructures. Furthermore, the SERS intensity increased almost linearly as the mother concentration increased, which indicates that such a sandwich structure may be used as a good SERS substrate for quantitative analysis.

Schematic diagram of the SNPs/nanoarrays sandwich substrate for SERS.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► A sandwich structured substrate with good SERS performance was designed.
► Detection sensitivity of the sandwich substrate can reach to 10−19 M of R6G.
► The sandwich substrate can be used as a quantitative analytical tool.
► The sandwich substrate also exhibits good stability and reproducibility.