Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy detection of organic molecules and in situ monitoring of organic reactions by ion-induced silver nanoparticle clusters

Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) finds wide applications in the field of organic molecule detection. However, reliable SERS detection of organic molecules and in situ monitoring of organic reactions under natural conditions by metal colloids are still challenging due to the formation of unstable nanoparticle clusters in solution and the low solubility of the organic molecules. Here, we approach the problems by introducing calcium ions to aggregate silver nanoparticles to form stable hot spots and acetone to promote uniform distribution of organic molecules on the nanoparticle surface. Significantly, our method exhibits stable SERS detection of up to 6 types of organic molecules in liquid. With acetone signals as an internal standard, we are able to determine molecule concentrations as well as monitor 3 kinds of organic reactions in situ. Our method shows potential for biomedical analysis, environmental analysis, and organic catalysis research.