Emerging investigator series: quantitative insights into the relationship between the concentrations and SERS intensities of neonicotinoids in water

Abstract

This study explores the theoretical foundation behind the application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for neonicotinoid quantification. Our findings demonstrate that SERS intensities are determined by the thermodynamic adsorption behaviors of neonicotinoid molecules transitioning from aqueous phases to gold nanoparticle (AuNP) surfaces. The dynamic ranges and limits of detection can be accurately predicted by classic adsorption isotherms.