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In-situ growth of gold nanoparticles on electrospun flexible multilayered PVDF nanofibers for SERS sensing of molecules and bacteria

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Abstract

Plasmonic surface of flexible multilayered nanofibers possesses special superiority for the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing of molecules and microbial cells. However, the fabrication of flexible plasmonic nanofibers with high sensitivity and reproducibility is difficult. Herein, we report a smart strategy for fabricating flexible plasmonic fibers, in which compact and homogeneous gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are in-situ grown on the high-curvature surface of multilayered fibers of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Firstly, the surface of PVDF fibers is changed electrically, and Au seeds are deposited on the surface of PVDF fibers using electrostatic driving force. Secondly, a stable AuI4− complex is formed employing coordination between I− and AuCl4− ions, which could decrease the reduction potential of AuCl4− and restrain the self-nucleation, and then the reduction reaction of AuI4− is initiated by introducing PVDF@Au seeds to pull down the barrier of potential energy. Finally, in-situ growth of AuNPs is generated on the high-curvature surface of PVDF nanofibers, and large-scale hotspots are generated by adjacent AuNPs coupling in the three-dimensional (3D) space of multilayered fibers. Membrane of PVDF@Au nanofibers also realizes the sensitive detection of thiram molecules (low limit of detection of 0.1 nM) and good reproducibility (relative standard deviation of 10.6%). Meanwhile, due to the multilayered construction of PVDF@Au nanofibers, a valid SERS signal on 3D surface of bacteria could be generated. 3D distribution of hotspots on multilayered PVDF@Au nanofibers gives a clear advantage for SERS sensing of organic molecules and microbial cells.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81801122). Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi (No. 2020JQ-529). Scientific Research Program Funded by Shaanxi Provincial Education Department (No.20JK0658). The industry-University-Research collaborative innovation project of Keqiao Textile Industry Innovation Institute of Xi’an Polytechnic University (No. 19KQZD01). Xi’an Science and Technology Project (GXYD7.3), and Key R&D projects of Shaanxi (No. 2020GY-273). Project of China National Textile Industry Association (No. 2020047). The authors thank Yu Wang from Instrument Analysis Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University for helping us to complete the Raman detection. We also thank Senior Engineer Wei Wang from the State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials for SEM measurements.

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  1. Dongzhen Chen and Liang Zhang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key laboratory of functional textile sensing fiber and irregular shape weaving technology, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Xi’an Polytechnic University, Xi’an, 710048, China

    Dongzhen Chen, Liang Zhang & Xinhai He

  2. Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China

    Pan Ning & Tao Fu

  3. State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China

    Haozhi Yuan

  4. Non-equilibrium Condensed Matter and Quantum Engineering Laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, School of Science, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China

    Yu Zhang

  5. Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, China

    Meng Zhang

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  1. Dongzhen Chen
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Correspondence to Meng Zhang, Tao Fu or Xinhai He.

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In-situ growth of gold nanoparticles on electrospun flexible multilayered PVDF nanofibers for SERS sensing of molecules and bacteria

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Chen, D., Zhang, L., Ning, P. et al. In-situ growth of gold nanoparticles on electrospun flexible multilayered PVDF nanofibers for SERS sensing of molecules and bacteria. Nano Res. 14, 4885–4893 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-021-3530-9

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