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Molecularly imprinted 3D SERS sensor with inorganic frameworks for specific and recyclable SERS sensing application

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Abstract

Poor selectivity and reusability of Au/Ag nanostructures are the main challenges for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in real sample detection. Herein, a novel specific and reusable three-dimensional (3D) SERS sensor with dual functions of selective trapping and photocatalytic degradation was designed. Firstly, Au-Ag bimetallic nanoparticles decorated silicon nanowires array (SiNWs-AuAg) were prepared as 3D SERS substrate. Then, silicon-based inorganic-framework molecularly imprinted TiO2 (TiO2@SiMIP) was synthesized and immobilized on SiNWs-AuAg by using rhodamine 6G (R6G) as template molecule. Owing to the excellent SERS performance of SiNWs-AuAg and the specific affinity of TiO2@SiMIP to template molecule, the prepared SERS sensor enables sensitive and selective detection of R6G in food samples with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.27 nM. In addition, due to the photocatalysis of TiO2 and the stability of silicon-based inorganic framework, the residual templates in TiO2@SiMIP can be completely removed by UV irradiation, and the imprinted cavity of regenerated sensors still maintained good selectivity after regeneration by UV irradiation.

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Funding

This work was supported by financial support from the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (STEP) (No. 2019QZKK0201), the Opening Research Foundation of Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair (No. 2020CC004), the Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plant Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department (No. 10Y202103), and the Introduction of Talent Research Start-Up Fund of Chengdu University (No. 2081920038).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China

    Wenlong Liao, Qinghui Wang, Lijuan Huang & Li Zheng

  2. Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plants Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department, Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China

    Wenlong Liao, Juan Hao, Lijuan Huang, Li Zheng, Zhihang Yin, Yangjie Chen, Youting Zhou & Kunping Liu

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  1. Wenlong Liao
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  2. Qinghui Wang
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Correspondence to Wenlong Liao or Kunping Liu.

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Liao, W., Wang, Q., Hao, J. et al. Molecularly imprinted 3D SERS sensor with inorganic frameworks for specific and recyclable SERS sensing application. Microchim Acta 190, 50 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-023-05631-3

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