In this report we present the initial results of the use of different silver nanostructures deposited on silicon for trace detection of paraquat (a commonly used herbicide) using the surfaceenhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect. More specifically, the SERS-active substrates were fabricated from silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) deposited onto the flat surface of a silicon wafer (AgNPs@Si substrate), as well as on the surface of an obliquely aligned silicon nanowire (SiNW) array (AgNPs@SiNWs substrate), and from silver nanodendrites (AgNDs) deposited onto the flat surface of a silicon wafer (AgNDs@Si substrate). Results showed that with the change of the structure of the SERS-active substrate, higher levels of SERS enhancement have been achieved. Specifically, with the fabricated AgNDs@Si substrate, paraquat concentration as low as 1 ppm can be detected.

In order to detect trace concentrations of organic or biological molecules by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique, the SERS-active substrates with high enhancement factor are required. The silver nanodendrites (AgNDs) are a growing class of such SERS-active substrates. This report presents the preliminary results of the trace detection of paraquat (PQ), a commonly used herbicide, with the use of SERS-active substrates, which have been made from AgNDs deposited on silicon. The AgNDs were produced either by electroless deposition, or by electrodeposition onto a silicon wafer, using aqueous solution of HF and AgNO3. It was observed that the silver dendrites are formed only when AgNO3 concentration is high enough. Next, it was found that with the additional assistance of an electric potential in the electrodeposition, the dendrites have grown up with the more perfect ramification. The AgNDs with more perfect branching gave the Raman spectrum of PQ with higher enhancement factor. More specifically, while the SERS-active substrates prepared from electrodeposited AgNDs were able to detect PQ with concentration as low as 0.01 ppm, the ones made from electroless deposited AgNDs could only detect PQ at concentration of hundreds times higher.

Thiram is a fungicide belonging to the dithiocarbamate family of pesticides that is widely used for fruits, vegetables and mature crops to control fungal diseases. The residue of thiram in food could pose a threat to human health. At present the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is emerging as an ultrasensitive method for detection of thiram traces. In this report we show that by using home-made arrays of silver nanodendrites grown on silicon (AgNDs@Si) as SERS substrates, we can detect thiram to very low concentrations, with the limit of detection (LOD) of 1.2 ppb.

It is well known that cyanide is an extremely toxic lethal poison with human death within minutes after exposure to only 300 ppm cyanide. On the other hand, cyanide is released into the environment (mainly through waste water) every day from various human activities. Therefore, rapid, sensitive and cost-effective cyanide trace detection is an urgent need. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a method that meets these requirements. It should be noted, however, that in this technique SERS substrates, which are usually made of gold or silver, will be leached with aqueous cyanide by the formation of complexes between gold or silver with cyanide. This will cause the SERS spectrum of cyanide to be modified. When determining cyanide concentrations by SERS analysis, this spectral modification should be taken into account. This report presents the SERS spectral modification of aqueous cyanide traces (in ppm and lower concentration range) when the SERS substrates used are flower-like silver micro-structures.

Wool roll-like silver nanoflowers of different sizes were obtained by reducing AgNO3 with ascorbic acid in the presence of citric acid in a mixed ethanol/water solution with different volume ratios.