Versatile Silver Nanoparticles-Based SERS Substrate with High Sensitivity and Stability

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering has developed into a mature analytical technique useful in various applications; however, the reproducible fabrication of portable SERS substrate with high sensitivity and good uniformity is still an ongoing pursuit. Reported herein rapid method inexpensive that enables sub-nanomolar detection molecular analytes. The obtained by application silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs)-based ink precisely design patterns aid in-house assembled printer equipped user-fillable pen. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations show 155-times Ag NP electric field enhancement for nanoparticle pairs particle spacing 2 nm. By comparing performance made different support matrices methods, PET-printed shows optimal performance, estimated factor 107. quantitative analysis rhodamine 6G absorbed on optimized exhibits linear relationship, correlation coefficient (R2) 0.9998, between intensity at 610 cm−1 concentration range 0.1 nM—1μM. practical low limit R6G 10 pM. substrates stability (at least one month) have been effectively tested cancer drugs, including doxorubicin metvan.