Flexible Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) sensor for residue-free pesticide detection based on agriculture 4.0 concepts

Abstract

Given the health and environmental risks associated with pesticide misuse, achieving zero pesticide residues is pivotal in Agriculture 4.0. Traditional detection methods such as HPLC and GC-MS are both complex and time-consuming. In contrast, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) offers rapid detection and high sensitivity, aligning with the efficiency and accuracy requirements of Agriculture 4.0. In this study, we developed a high-performance flexible substrate using a simple chemical synthesis method. We used material adsorption, anisotropic charge attraction and electron migration to facilitate the growth of the substrate material, which promoted more 'hot spots' and electron transfer, and continued optimisation of the preparation process, which resulted in a significant increase in spectral intensity. The substrate demonstrated outstanding detection capability, with a detection limit of 10−15 M for thiabendazole (TBZ). In practical fruit testing, TBZ residue concentrations on the surface of American cherries could be detected as low as 10−8 mg/mL, well below China's prescribed limit of 5 mg/kg. Relative to previous work in the field of pesticide detection, our study has lower detection limits and concentrations, as well as lower cost and simpler preparation, which provide more options for the detection of very low concentrations of hazardous substances. At the same time, it was confirmed that SERS is consistent with the zero pesticide residue goal of Agriculture 4.0, demonstrating practical efficacy and accuracy within this framework.