Synergism induced sensitive SERS sensing to detect 2,6-Di-t-butyl-p-hydroxytoluene (BHT) with silver nanotriangles sensitized ZnO nanorod arrays for food security applications

Abstract

By the over exploitation of synthetic phenolic antioxidants [2,6-Di-t-butyl-p-hydroxytoluene (BHT)] alarm the society with greater health risk urge for careful monitoring and assessment. To accomplish the objective, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is explored as prominent technique for direct detection of food additives with the development of semiconductor/metallic junction (1D ZnO nanorods/ silver nanotriangles) sensor on stainless steel substrate. Stainless steel substrate offers cost-effective, highly thermal resistant, improves Raman signal strength and suppresses background signal fluorescence. The influence of growth parameters with respect to length of the nanorods (ZNR) are optimized. Silver nanotriangles (AgT) are sensitized upon the surface of ZnO nanorods (ZNR/AgT). The hybrid nanostructures structural, morphology and optical property are discussed in detail. Highly sensitive sensor was identified with ZnO nanorod length 0.49 µm attained at growth interval of 3 h (Z3/AgT). The underlying mechanisms responsible for ultra-sensitivity is highlighted with the point of synergism. With synergistic mechanism, ∼5.2-fold increment in sensitivity is attained. The fabricated Z3/AgT sensor portrays high stability, vastly reusable, extreme uniformity (RSD values -8.3%) as well ultrasensitive in sensing the food additive BHT at very low concentration (0.1 ng/mL). The developed sensor is highly suitable for onsite monitoring of foodstuffs to conserve the food safety.