Facile fabrication of field deployable surface enhanced Raman scattering smart sand from sea sand

Abstract

This paper proposed a simple strategy for the preparation of field deployable SERS sensor, namely the SERS smart sand (SERS3), by modifying sea sand with Ag NPs. The as prepared SERS3 sensor could be easily spread onto the surface of interest for sensing, and was able to detect ppb level of Raman probe with low magnification lens. The feasibility for in situ detection of KNO3 in soil was also demonstrated.