Silver Nanoparticles Decorated N-Rgo, and Ns-Rgo Nano-Hybrids as Sers Sensors for Hazardous Material Detection

We design and synthesize nanohybrids composed of Silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) with Nitrogen doped (N-rGO) and Nitrogen-Sulphur co-doped (NS-rGO) with GO, SERS probes for the detection of hazardous materials. Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized using Hummer’s method, subsequently N-rGO and NS-rGO were achieved by hydrothermal treatment. GO showed sheet structure with partly folds and N-rGO and NS-rGO maintain ultrathin-layered structure even after doping with N and S molecules. The I D /I G ratio of N-rGO and NS-rGO composites were higher than neat GO, indicating incorporation of defects by replacing sp 2 C atoms by N and S atoms. The N-rGO and NS-rGO were further decorated with AgNPs by wet chemical route. Thereafter, nano-hybrids, Ag-N-rGO and Ag-NS-rGO were used as SERS probes for the detection of DNT, PA and DPA molecules. The unique properties of hybrid SERS substrate enables it to achieve nM LOD with excellent reproducibility and five orders of enhancement in Raman intensity. • We design and synthesize N-rGO and NS-rGO nanohybrids. • Synthesized nanohybrids were decorated with AgNPs using wet chemical route. • Fabricated nonohybrids were used as a SERS probes to detect DNT, PA and DPA. • Nanohybrid SERS substrate achieve nM sensitivity with excellent reproducibility. • The five orders of enhancement in intensity were achieved for all the molecules.