Enhanced efficient and sensitive SERS sensing via controlled Ag‐nanoparticle‐decorated 3D flower‐like ZnO hierarchical microstructure

Abstract

Various sizes and morphologies of noble metal/zinc oxide hybrid materials have promising applications in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Generally, organic agents used during the synthesis of metal nanoparticles will inexorably induce organic pollution on the surface of SERS substrate, resulting in a negative effect on detection sensitivity. Herein, a stable and clean 3D flower-like ZnO/Ag hierarchical microstructure SERS substrate was designed and fabricated via a simple photocatalytic method. This synthetic strategy does not involve usage of any organic agents, which ensures the cleanness and free of impurities interferences. As anticipated, the as-fabricated 3D flowerlike ZnO/Ag SERS substrates with high surface-to-volume ratio increased numerous hot spots, and exhibited excellent detection sensitivity to Rhodamine 6G. A linear relationship between the Raman intensity and the concentration of Rhodamine 6G ranging from 10 −11 to 10 −4 M was realised. This work demonstrated a performance-enhanced SERS sensor based on microflower-like ZnO@Ag hybrids, which provides a potential method to develop highly sensitive and stable SERS sensor for organic molecules detection.

Mechanisms and applications of microbial synthesis of metal nanoparticles in agri-sectors

“…251 Surface-enhanced Raman scattering effect: the localized chemical enhancement effect on the surface of MNPs can enhance the Raman scattering signal of dye molecules, thereby promoting dye degradation. 252 Application of microbially synthesized metal nanoparticles in dye degradation. Traditional methods for removing dye compounds from water, including physical and chemical techniques like incineration, coagulation, membrane separation, and ozone oxidation, as well as biological methods such as using activated carbon, are often inefficient.…”

“…251 Surface-enhanced Raman scattering effect: the localized chemical enhancement effect on the surface of MNPs can enhance the Raman scattering signal of dye molecules, thereby promoting dye degradation. 252…”

Two-step strategy, growth mechanism and optical properties of plasmonic Ag-modified ZnO nanomaterials

“…32 So far, Ag/ZnO nanomaterials prepared using different methods have been investigated by many researchers. [22][23][24][25][26][27] For example, Ag-modied ZnO (AZO) nanostructures have been synthesized using hydrothermal (HT) and chemical vapor phase (CVD) methods, 28 cryogenic methods, 29 wet chemical synthesis and thermal evaporation, 30 among other methods and techniques. For example, Ievtushenko et al 22 obtained the Ag decorated ZnO nanorods on a silicon substrate using the CVD method and reported the surface morphology and near-band edge emission of the samples.…”

“…For example, Ievtushenko et al 22 obtained the Ag decorated ZnO nanorods on a silicon substrate using the CVD method and reported the surface morphology and near-band edge emission of the samples. Wang et al 23 successfully synthesized Ag nanoparticles decorated 3D flower like Zn. O. Długosz et al 24 synthesized ZnO–Ag NPs using the continuous microwave method and studied the structure, crystallinity and photocatalytic properties of the sample modified with metallic Ag.…”

Review—Nanostructural ZnO-Based Electrochemical Sensor for Environmental Application

“…[30][31][32] While nanoflowers, nanoflakes and urchin-like nanostructures are considered as 3D nanostructures. [33][34][35] The structural changes from 0D to 3D, where nanoparticles were transformed into various shapes, provide diverse surface area, porosity and electron transfer rates. The large surface area delivers more active sites during molecule adsorption, resulting in the improved sensing performance.…”