Silver nanoparticles doped agarose disk: Highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate for in situ analysis of ink dyes

Raman spectroscopy is a preferred analytical tool for forensic trace analysis due to its non-invasive nature. This technique has been utilized in examination of organic colorants present in fibers and ink, but high fluorescent nature of these compounds is a problem. In the present study, silver-doped agarose gel disk, having property of quenching fluorescence and enhancing Raman signals, is found to be effective as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for analysis of rhodamine 6G (Rh 6G) and crystal violet (CV) dyes. As-prepared and well characterized by UV, TEM-EDAX and XRD techniques, the investigated silver-doped agarose gel disk proves to have minimal invasive as confirmed by the ATR-FTIR method and effective for in situ SERS analysis of blue and red ballpoint ink. The disk is stable upon storage and hence can be re-used and re-examined. The present method offers new possibilities in trace forensic analysis with minimal destruction.