Three-dimensional plasmonic substrate as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) tool for the detection of trace chemicals

A three-dimensional (3D) plasmonic substrate was developed using gold nanorods (GNRs) onto a tapered fiber surface using optical tweezing. To determine the efficacy of the substrate, Raman spectra of two toxic chemicals Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and Crystal Violet (CV) were studied. The "dip and dry" method was used to adsorb the chemicals along the tapered fiber length. The minimum concentration detected for CV and R6G was 10-12 M. We have reported the characteristics and unique features of the manufactured substrate. A three-dimensional plasmonic substrate was prepared by depositing gold nanorods (GNRs) onto a tapered fiber surface. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy technique enables us to find the minimum detectable limit (LOD) of two toxic chemicals, Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and crystal violet (CV). The chemicals were adsorbed onto the fiber surface using "dip and dry" method.image