An Ultrasensitive, Disposable, and “Plug and Play” Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Substrate for the In Situ Detection of Trace Thiram in Water

Abstract

In this work, TiO2 nanotube arrays were fabricated on Ti meshes via anodic oxidation and decorated with Ag nanoparticles by a photodeposition process. Then the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect of the as-prepared samples for trace thiram was directly investigated in a thiram aqueous solution. The stability and selectivity of our substrates were also explored. In addition, for practical purposes, we further studied the SERS of trace thiram in tap water using the as-prepared sample as a SERS substrate. At last, the surface-enhanced mechanism was discussed preliminarily. It can be found that the Ag-nanoparticle-decorated TiO2 nanotube array on a Ti mesh is an ultrasensitive SERS substrate for trace thiram in water. The detection limits are up to 1 × 10–9 mol L–1 in deionized water and 1 × 10–7 mol L–1 in tap water, respectively. Moreover, this substrate possesses dramatic signal uniformity [relative standard deviation <6% (spot-to-spot)], excellent reproducibility [relative standard deviation <4.7% (batch-to-batch)], high selectivity, and good stability. These results indicate that this inexpensive substrate possesses great potential as a highly sensitive, disposable, and “plug and play” SERS substrate for the in situ detection of trace thiram in drinking water.

In Situ Growth Large Area Silver Nanostructure on Metal Phenolic Network Coated NAAO Film and Its SERS Sensing Application for Monofluoroacetic Acid

“…As determined by GC-MS, TSA was consumed quantitatively with the increase of FAcOH (Figure A), which ensured the quantitative SERS analysis. Referring to the drying process of a dropped liquid sample inevitably induces the “coffering effect” on the NAAO@AgNS2, thus degrading quantitative accuracy . For improving quantification, SCN – was used as the IS due to its simple Raman fingerprint (Figure B).…”

“…However, SERS detection of weakly adsorbed substances as well as small Raman scattering cross sections or no vibrational modes remains largely unexplored. , Another issue in SERS analysis lies in fabricating uniform, reproducible, and highly active SERS substrates. Currently, micro/macro SERS substrates with homogeneous/heterogeneous nanocomposites were proposed and demonstrated their great potential for SERS sensing, such as flowerlike Au nanostructure (AuNSs) microarrays, a dendrimer-Au nanoparticle network covered alumina membrane, a silver dendrite fabricated on copper substrate, the Ag nanoparticle-decorated TiO 2 nanotube array, as well as a large-area 2D or 3D array of AuNSs on solid substrates. − Although these works have achieved remarkable success and greatly improved SERS analysis, developing high-performance SERS substrates with cost-efficiency and low technical demands undoubtedly provides beneficial complements.…”

Lab‐on‐paper surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy platform based on self‐assembled Au@Ag nanocube monolayer for on‐site detection of thiram in soil

“…Together with as‐fabricated SERS platform on paper, the SERS spectra of thiram in soil with different concentrations ranging from 0.24 to 12 mg/kg were collected, and the results were shown in Figure a. The spectral features of thiram could be identified even if the concentration as low as 0.24 mg/kg, and the Raman characteristic peak of thiram was mainly located at 1386 cm −1 attributed to the CN stretching mode and symmetric CH 3 deformation mode according to the references . Figure b plotted the Raman intensity versus the concentration of thiram in soil for the characteristic peak at 1386 cm −1 .…”

“…Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), which can provide high specificity and sensitivity Raman signals of molecules, has attracted extensive attention as a powerful analytical technique for materials characterization, bioanalysis, on‐site monitoring of catalytic reactions, and contamination detection . Enormous SERS substrates have been developed for the determination of thiram in the real‐life environment . For instance, Sun et al fabricated a SERS substrate with PMMA/AgNPs/graphene structure to measure thiram in juice .…”

“…Fang et al presented a SERS‐enabled micropipettes substrate for micro‐sampling and real‐time detection of thiram residues on complex vegetable surfaces . Dou et al developed a “Plug and Play” SERS substrate for on‐site detection of thiram in water . The numerous reported methods are almost focused on the analysis of thiram on surface or in simple liquid samples.…”