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Updated: May 14, 2026
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Fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-Based Flexible Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Substrate for Ultrasensitive Detection
Published on: November 17, 2023
Reconfigurable Nanogap SERS for Multiscale Molecular Sensing on Curved Surfaces
Goum Min1, Jinsoo Na1, Yugyeong Kang1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) platform using shape memory polymers. This reconfigurable SERS substrate enables adaptable sensing for molecules of various sizes, improving quantitative reliability and reusability.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) provides ultrasensitive molecular detection but is limited by static substrates.
- Current SERS substrates lack quantitative reliability and conformal sensing capabilities due to fixed nanostructures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a reconfigurable and conformable SERS platform for adaptable molecular detection.
- To enable reversible switching of nanogaps for tuning SERS performance.
- To demonstrate size-adaptive sensing for various analytes and surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of gold-coated shape memory polymer (SMP) nanopillar arrays embedded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs).
- Utilizing compression and laser-induced recovery to reversibly modulate vertical gold-gold (Au─Au) nanogaps.
- Demonstrating detection of a macromolecule (hemoglobin) and a small molecule (thiram) on different surfaces.
Main Results:
- The platform reversibly switches Au─Au nanogaps, tuning near-field coupling and hotspot density.
- Achieved size-adaptive SERS detection of hemoglobin (64 kDa) on curved surfaces and thiram (0.24 kDa) on fruit surfaces.
- Demonstrated platform reusability and operational stability over multiple cycles.
Conclusions:
- The adaptive nanogap-switching strategy provides a practical approach for reusable, size-adaptive SERS platforms.
- This technology advances applications in food safety and forensic chemical analysis.
- The reconfigurable SERS platform overcomes limitations of static substrates for enhanced quantitative analysis.
