Surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of toluene and dichlorobenzene vapors using 1-propanethiol-linked Ag nanoparticles

Nosoung Myoung,Hyung Keun Yoo,In-Wook Hwang

doi:10.1117/1.jnp.8.083083

Nosoung Myoung, Hyung Keun Yoo + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1117/1.jnp.8.083083

Copy DOI

Abstract

We have detected the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals of toluene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene (ODCB) vapors at parts per million concentrations using 1-propanethiol-linked Ag nanoparticles and a fiber optics–coupled Raman spectrograph. Calibration curves were constructed for each detector by plotting Raman band intensity ratios of toluene and ODCB with respect to that of 1-propanethiol as a function of vapor concentration. The detectors showed effective vapor sensing ranges of 0.6 to 600 and 10 to 600 ppm for toluene and ODCB, respectively, following vapor adsorption to the SERS hot spots. We provide evidence for the facility of the SERS detection system for instantaneously discriminating and quantifying respective vapors from a composite vapor.

Highlights

The development of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based detectors has been inspired by a growing demand for high sensitivity and facile detection of signals corresponding to organic molecules in the fingerprint regime
From analysis of the SERS signals obtained for toluene and ODCB vapors, we demonstrate that the detectability of the vapors is significantly influenced by vapor adsorption to the SERS hot spots rather than the degree of SERS effects
The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images shown in Fig. 2 demonstrate that the Ag NPs were systematically deposited onto the SiO2 substrates by wet chemistry processes

Summary

Introduction

The development of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based detectors has been inspired by a growing demand for high sensitivity and facile detection of signals corresponding to organic molecules in the fingerprint regime. Several surface modification methods for deducing organic molecule adsorption to SERS hot spots have been attempted. Goncalves et al.[5] recently modified the surfaces of triangular Ag nanostructures with thiol units for detecting organic dyes. They observed intense Raman signals from the dyes adsorbed to the thiol holder units linked to Ag nanostructures, as measured by confocal microscopy. Deschaines et al.[6] detected SERS signals from aqueous organic samples adsorbed to alkythiol units linked to Ag foils. The authors demonstrated that the superior property of shorter 1-propanethiol in an alkane chain length resulted in an increased SERS effect, which was enabled by closer adsorption of sample molecules to SERS hot spots

Methods

Results

Conclusion