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Targeting improved reproducibility in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy with planar substrates using 3D printed
Buddini Iroshika Karawdeniya1, Robert B Chevalier2, Y M Nuwan D Y Bandara3
1Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|July 10, 2021
Summary
Drop-casting for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) can be unreliable. Using 3D printed holders to control sample placement significantly improves SERS measurement reproducibility and signal intensity.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Spectroscopy
- Materials Science
Background:
- Drop-casting is a common method for sample deposition in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).
- Solvent evaporation during drop-casting can lead to inhomogeneous analyte distribution on the substrate.
- Inconsistent sample distribution can compromise SERS measurement accuracy and reproducibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate 3D printed holders for precise spatial control of drop-cast samples in SERS.
- To investigate the impact of controlled spatial offsets on SERS signal intensity and reproducibility.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of 3D printed holders designed for spatial registry of drop-cast sample centers.
- Systematic variation of the spatial offset between the analyte droplet center and the laser excitation spot (0-900 µm).
- Performance evaluation of the 3D printed holders using SERS measurements.
Main Results:
- The 3D printed holders enabled controlled spatial positioning of the dried sample droplet center.
- Deliberate spatial offsets prevented significant signal intensity drops (up to ~3x) typically observed with central drop placement.
- Improved measurement reproducibility was achieved by offsetting the excitation laser from the droplet center.
Conclusions:
- 3D printed holders offer a simple, cost-effective solution to enhance the reliability of SERS measurements using drop-casting.
- Controlled spatial offsets are crucial for mitigating signal variations caused by inhomogeneous sample distribution.
- This approach improves the practical utility of drop-casting for SERS analysis, especially with limited sample volumes.
