Additive Manufacturing‐Enabled Architected Nanocomposite Lattices Coated with Plasmonic Nanoparticles for Water Pollutants Detection

Abstract

Novel low‐cost materials to uptake and detect vestigial amounts of pesticides are highly desirable for water quality monitoring. Herein, are demonstrated, for the first time, surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors enabled via additively manufactured lattices coated with plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) for detecting pesticides in real water samples. The architected lattices comprising polypropylene (PP) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are realized via fused filament fabrication (FFF). In the first stage, the SERS performance of the PP/MWCNT filaments coated with distinct metallic NPs (Ag NPs and Au NPs) is evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as molecular probe. Thereafter, distinctly architected hybrid SERS sensors with periodic porous and fully dense geometries are investigated as adsorbents to uptake MB from aqueous solutions and subsequent detection using SERS. The spatial distribution of MB and Ag NPs on the FFF‐printed lattices is accomplished by SERS imaging. The best hybrid composite is used as SERS probing system to detect low amounts of pesticides (thiram and paraquat) and offers a detection limit of 100 nm for both pesticides. As a proof‐of‐concept, FFF‐enabled test strips are used to detect in loco paraquat molecules spiked on real water samples (Estuary Aveiro water and tap water) using a portable Raman spectrometer.

3D Printing Technology: Role in Safeguarding Food Security

“…Although the proposed geometry is impractical for mold-based manufacturing, it is resolved by 3D printing. It is reported that the architectural geometry contributed to a higher sensitivity in terms of absorption behavior . Another application for a designed 3D printed device is the soft grippers used for food processing .…”

“…3D-printed carbon composites are prototyped as electrochemical sensors to detect pollutants in water. , The activated nanocarbon influences the voltammogram reading based on different pH variation. These sensors are manufactured by conductive polymer-based sensors by combination of direct ink writing (DIW) and FDM, or FDM alone. , The implementation of 3D printed pH sensors demonstrates promising results with excellent conductivity response in different pH concentrations ranging from 6.4 to 9. However, further improvements for temperature correction must be addressed to compete with commercially available sensors .…”

“…It is reported that the architectural geometry contributed to a higher sensitivity in terms of absorption behavior. 35 Another application for a designed 3D printed device is the soft grippers used for food processing. 36 Through 3D printing, architectural designs are employed to expand the functionalities and flexibility for food handling.…”

“… 67 (c) Designed nanocomposite lattices, coated with plasmonic nanoparticles, utilized for the detection of water pollutants. 35 (d) A nanostructured conductive polymer-based gas sensor, printed using inkjet technology, for the detection of meat spoilage, accompanied by smartphone notifications. 21 (e) A 3D printed color-changing biosensor, enabling real-time contamination detection in food packaging.…”

“…(b) An integrated electrochemical cell, 3D-printed for the purpose of detecting Hg(II) up to 0.52 μg L −1 in water 67. (c) Designed nanocomposite lattices, coated with plasmonic nanoparticles, utilized for the detection of water pollutants 35. (d) A nanostructured conductive polymer-based gas sensor, printed using inkjet technology, for the detection of meat spoilage, accompanied by smartphone notifications 21.…”