Quantitative detection of trace nanoplastics (down to 50 nm) via surface-enhanced Raman scattering based on the multiplex-feature coffee ring

Quantitative detection of trace small-sized nanoplastics (<100 nm) remains a significant challenge in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). To tackle this issue, we developed a hydrophobic CuO@Ag nanowire substrate and introduced a multiplex-feature analysis strategy based on the coffee ring...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xinao Lin, Fengcai Lei, Xiu Liang, Yang Jiao, Xiaofei Zhao, Zhen Li, Chao Zhang, Jing Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institue of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences 2025-06-01
Series:Opto-Electronic Advances
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.oejournal.org/article/doi/10.29026/oea.2025.240260
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849247149240352768
author Xinao Lin
Fengcai Lei
Xiu Liang
Yang Jiao
Xiaofei Zhao
Zhen Li
Chao Zhang
Jing Yu
author_facet Xinao Lin
Fengcai Lei
Xiu Liang
Yang Jiao
Xiaofei Zhao
Zhen Li
Chao Zhang
Jing Yu
author_sort Xinao Lin
collection DOAJ
description Quantitative detection of trace small-sized nanoplastics (<100 nm) remains a significant challenge in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). To tackle this issue, we developed a hydrophobic CuO@Ag nanowire substrate and introduced a multiplex-feature analysis strategy based on the coffee ring effect. This substrate not only offers high Raman enhancement but also exhibits a high probability of detection (POD), enabling rapid and accurate identification of 50 nm polystyrene nanoplastics over a broad concentration range (1–10−10 wt%). Importantly, experimental results reveal a strong correlation between the coffee ring formation and the concentration of nanoplastic dispersion. By incorporating Raman signal intensity, coffee ring diameter, and POD as combined features, we established a machine learning-based mapping between nanoplastic concentration and coffee ring characteristics, allowing precise predictions of dispersion concentration. The mean squared error of these predictions is remarkably low, ranging from 0.21 to 0.54, representing a 19 fold improvement in accuracy compared to traditional linear regression-based methods. This strategy effectively integrates SERS with wettability modification techniques, ensuring high sensitivity and fingerprinting capabilities, while addressing the limitations of Raman signal intensity in accurately reflecting concentration changes at ultra-low levels, providing a new idea for precise SERS measurements of nanoplastics.
format Article
id doaj-art-2d7c8674f9984e339a5e27fb59d2db40
institution Kabale University
issn 2096-4579
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Institue of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
record_format Article
series Opto-Electronic Advances
spelling doaj-art-2d7c8674f9984e339a5e27fb59d2db402025-08-20T03:58:18ZengInstitue of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of SciencesOpto-Electronic Advances2096-45792025-06-018611310.29026/oea.2025.240260OEA-2024-0260ZhangchaoQuantitative detection of trace nanoplastics (down to 50 nm) via surface-enhanced Raman scattering based on the multiplex-feature coffee ringXinao Lin0Fengcai Lei1Xiu Liang2Yang Jiao3Xiaofei Zhao4Zhen Li5Chao Zhang6Jing Yu7Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technical Center of Light Manipulation, School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, ChinaCollege of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, ChinaAdvanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, ChinaShandong Provincial Engineering and Technical Center of Light Manipulation, School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, ChinaShandong Provincial Engineering and Technical Center of Light Manipulation, School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, ChinaShandong Provincial Engineering and Technical Center of Light Manipulation, School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, ChinaShandong Provincial Engineering and Technical Center of Light Manipulation, School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, ChinaShandong Provincial Engineering and Technical Center of Light Manipulation, School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, ChinaQuantitative detection of trace small-sized nanoplastics (<100 nm) remains a significant challenge in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). To tackle this issue, we developed a hydrophobic CuO@Ag nanowire substrate and introduced a multiplex-feature analysis strategy based on the coffee ring effect. This substrate not only offers high Raman enhancement but also exhibits a high probability of detection (POD), enabling rapid and accurate identification of 50 nm polystyrene nanoplastics over a broad concentration range (1–10−10 wt%). Importantly, experimental results reveal a strong correlation between the coffee ring formation and the concentration of nanoplastic dispersion. By incorporating Raman signal intensity, coffee ring diameter, and POD as combined features, we established a machine learning-based mapping between nanoplastic concentration and coffee ring characteristics, allowing precise predictions of dispersion concentration. The mean squared error of these predictions is remarkably low, ranging from 0.21 to 0.54, representing a 19 fold improvement in accuracy compared to traditional linear regression-based methods. This strategy effectively integrates SERS with wettability modification techniques, ensuring high sensitivity and fingerprinting capabilities, while addressing the limitations of Raman signal intensity in accurately reflecting concentration changes at ultra-low levels, providing a new idea for precise SERS measurements of nanoplastics.https://www.oejournal.org/article/doi/10.29026/oea.2025.240260quantitative detection of trace nanoplasticssurface-enhanced raman scatteringcoffee ringmultiplex-feature analysismachine learning
spellingShingle Xinao Lin
Fengcai Lei
Xiu Liang
Yang Jiao
Xiaofei Zhao
Zhen Li
Chao Zhang
Jing Yu
Quantitative detection of trace nanoplastics (down to 50 nm) via surface-enhanced Raman scattering based on the multiplex-feature coffee ring
Opto-Electronic Advances
quantitative detection of trace nanoplastics
surface-enhanced raman scattering
coffee ring
multiplex-feature analysis
machine learning
title Quantitative detection of trace nanoplastics (down to 50 nm) via surface-enhanced Raman scattering based on the multiplex-feature coffee ring
title_full Quantitative detection of trace nanoplastics (down to 50 nm) via surface-enhanced Raman scattering based on the multiplex-feature coffee ring
title_fullStr Quantitative detection of trace nanoplastics (down to 50 nm) via surface-enhanced Raman scattering based on the multiplex-feature coffee ring
title_full_unstemmed Quantitative detection of trace nanoplastics (down to 50 nm) via surface-enhanced Raman scattering based on the multiplex-feature coffee ring
title_short Quantitative detection of trace nanoplastics (down to 50 nm) via surface-enhanced Raman scattering based on the multiplex-feature coffee ring
title_sort quantitative detection of trace nanoplastics down to 50 nm via surface enhanced raman scattering based on the multiplex feature coffee ring
topic quantitative detection of trace nanoplastics
surface-enhanced raman scattering
coffee ring
multiplex-feature analysis
machine learning
url https://www.oejournal.org/article/doi/10.29026/oea.2025.240260
work_keys_str_mv AT xinaolin quantitativedetectionoftracenanoplasticsdownto50nmviasurfaceenhancedramanscatteringbasedonthemultiplexfeaturecoffeering
AT fengcailei quantitativedetectionoftracenanoplasticsdownto50nmviasurfaceenhancedramanscatteringbasedonthemultiplexfeaturecoffeering
AT xiuliang quantitativedetectionoftracenanoplasticsdownto50nmviasurfaceenhancedramanscatteringbasedonthemultiplexfeaturecoffeering
AT yangjiao quantitativedetectionoftracenanoplasticsdownto50nmviasurfaceenhancedramanscatteringbasedonthemultiplexfeaturecoffeering
AT xiaofeizhao quantitativedetectionoftracenanoplasticsdownto50nmviasurfaceenhancedramanscatteringbasedonthemultiplexfeaturecoffeering
AT zhenli quantitativedetectionoftracenanoplasticsdownto50nmviasurfaceenhancedramanscatteringbasedonthemultiplexfeaturecoffeering
AT chaozhang quantitativedetectionoftracenanoplasticsdownto50nmviasurfaceenhancedramanscatteringbasedonthemultiplexfeaturecoffeering
AT jingyu quantitativedetectionoftracenanoplasticsdownto50nmviasurfaceenhancedramanscatteringbasedonthemultiplexfeaturecoffeering