Modification of CR39 surfaces by 193 nm ArF laser for biomaterial sensing

Abstract

Abstract Ultrasensitive detection of biological and chemical species is significant in a wide range of scientific and technological fields. In this work, a surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate is engineered upon 193 nm ArF (Argon Fluoride) excimer laser irradiation that produces an output energy of 160 mJ/pulse in 10 ns. It induces a periodic surface structures which is commonly known as Laser Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS) of grooves like nanostructures on surface of Allyl diglycol carbonate (ADC) or CR39 polymer due to irradiation of 2400 J/cm2 energy dose. Then the produced nanostructured surface is coated with gold layer. The potential of the produced substrate as a SERS biosensor is investigated through methylene blue (MB) that gave an enhancement factor of 0.5*104. The biosensor sensitivity is characterized by detecting low concentration of MB with a detection limit of 0.1 μMolar (μM).