Quantitative surface-enhanced Raman measurements with embedded internal reference

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Quantitative analysis using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) faces challenges in achieving reliable results.
• Existing SERS methods often lean towards qualitative assessments due to difficulties in precise signal measurement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel strategy for accurate quantitative SERS measurements.
• To enhance the precision and reliability of SERS analysis through the incorporation of an internal reference standard.

Main Methods:

• Utilized gold-core/silver-shell nanoparticles with embedded 4-aminothiophenol as an internal reference.
• Applied the developed SERS strategy for the detection of Toluidine Blue O in aqueous solution and melamine in milk.

Main Results:

• Achieved a detection limit of 0.1 μM for Toluidine Blue O.
• Demonstrated a detection limit of approximately 5 μM for melamine in milk.
• Showcased significant improvement in linear fitting, indicating enhanced accuracy in quantitative SERS measurements.

Conclusions:

• The developed SERS strategy with an internal reference effectively improves the accuracy of quantitative measurements.
• The method demonstrates versatility, successfully detecting diverse analytes like dyes and contaminants in complex matrices such as milk.
• This approach offers a robust solution for reliable quantitative SERS analysis in various applications.