Detection of heavy metals, SERS and antibacterial activity of polyvinylpyrolidone modified plasmonic nanoparticles

Selective and sensitive optical sensor based on surface plasmon resonance for detection of various heavy metals in water using polyvinylpyrolidone modified silver nanoparticles was explained in this present study. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). UV-visible spectra show the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 409 nm corresponding to silver nanoparticles. Crystalline nature of the nanoparticles was evident from TEM images and XRD analysis. TEM images showed average size of 10 nm for prepared silver nanoparticles. FTIR analysis provides the presence of various functional groups responsible for the reduction and stability of the prepared silver nanoparticles. SERS gives the molecular orientation of the adsorbed pyridine molecules via its nitrogen lone pair of electrons on the surface of silver. Prepared polyvinylpyrolidone modified silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are demonstrated to detect the concentration of heavy metal contaminant Fe³⁺ ions in water based on linear change in surface plasmon resonance absorption strength. In addition, AgNPs showed promising activity towards E.coli. These observed optical properties suggest the possible utilization of prepared nanoparticles in the application of water purification.