Anisotropic Growth in Three-Dimensional Plasmonic Networks for Ultrasensitive and Versatile SERS Platforms

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Plasmonic nanostructures amplify electromagnetic fields for enhanced sensing and catalysis.
• Existing 3D plasmonic platforms face challenges in large-area fabrication, flexibility, and sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robust, scalable, and flexible 3D plasmonic platform for ultrasensitive detection.
• To demonstrate the platform's capability in detecting trace biogenic amine gases in food packaging.

Main Methods:

• A bottom-up strategy using in situ growth of gold nanowires (AuNWs) at ambient conditions.
• Induction of anisotropic AuNW growth using 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (pMBA) to form interconnected 3D networks.
• Integration of the 3D plasmonic platform into food packaging for real-time sensing.

Main Results:

• Formation of 3D gold nanowire networks with high-density plasmonic hotspots and strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) coupling.
• Achieved ultrasensitive detection of biogenic amine gases (BAs) with a detection limit as low as 10^-14 M.
• Demonstrated the platform's effectiveness in assessing seafood spoilage.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D plasmonic platform offers a scalable strategy for constructing versatile surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platforms.
• The platform shows significant potential for real-time environmental monitoring, noninvasive smart packaging, and plasmon-assisted catalysis.