Influence of Sample Preparation on SERS Signal
Carbendazim (MBC), a commonly used fungicide from the benzimidazole group, was applied in this study as a probe molecule to understand the influence of sample preparation on the SERS (surface-enhanced Raman scattering) signal. We applied the external standard method (ESM), preparing fresh Ag colloid...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Chemosensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/13/1/22 |
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| author | Isabela Bianchi-Carvalho Marcelo José dos Santos Oliveira Cibely Silva Martin Santiago Sánchez-Cortés Carlos José Leopoldo Constantino |
| author_facet | Isabela Bianchi-Carvalho Marcelo José dos Santos Oliveira Cibely Silva Martin Santiago Sánchez-Cortés Carlos José Leopoldo Constantino |
| author_sort | Isabela Bianchi-Carvalho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Carbendazim (MBC), a commonly used fungicide from the benzimidazole group, was applied in this study as a probe molecule to understand the influence of sample preparation on the SERS (surface-enhanced Raman scattering) signal. We applied the external standard method (ESM), preparing fresh Ag colloid samples (reduced by hydroxylamine) for each concentration and measuring with and without potassium nitrate (KNO₃) as an aggregation-inducing salt. The impact of sample dilution before or after the addition of the salt to the Ag colloid was also explored. SERS signals were correlated with Ag colloid aggregation observed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis extinction, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential, examining diffusion-limited cluster aggregation (DLCA) and reaction-limited cluster aggregation (RLCA) mechanisms. The optimal results were achieved without KNO₃, with more compact aggregates at lower concentrations and more branched ones at higher concentrations. Dilution of the Ag colloid before salt addition enabled lower detection limits than without any dilution. No SERS signal was observed when the salt was added before dilution. These findings emphasize that a consistent relationship between aggregate morphology and the SERS signal cannot be generalized across analytes. Analyte-specific properties play a crucial role in determining optimal aggregation conditions for SERS analysis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9a67378978ad4934b91cf1a9c7bc9bb3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-9040 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Chemosensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-9a67378978ad4934b91cf1a9c7bc9bb32025-01-24T13:26:55ZengMDPI AGChemosensors2227-90402025-01-011312210.3390/chemosensors13010022Influence of Sample Preparation on SERS SignalIsabela Bianchi-Carvalho0Marcelo José dos Santos Oliveira1Cibely Silva Martin2Santiago Sánchez-Cortés3Carlos José Leopoldo Constantino4School of Technology and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-900, SP, BrazilSchool of Technology and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-900, SP, BrazilSchool of Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira 15385-007, SP, BrazilInstituto de Estructura de la Materia, Instituto de Estructura de la Materia-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IEM-CSIC), 28006 Madrid, SpainSchool of Technology and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-900, SP, BrazilCarbendazim (MBC), a commonly used fungicide from the benzimidazole group, was applied in this study as a probe molecule to understand the influence of sample preparation on the SERS (surface-enhanced Raman scattering) signal. We applied the external standard method (ESM), preparing fresh Ag colloid samples (reduced by hydroxylamine) for each concentration and measuring with and without potassium nitrate (KNO₃) as an aggregation-inducing salt. The impact of sample dilution before or after the addition of the salt to the Ag colloid was also explored. SERS signals were correlated with Ag colloid aggregation observed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis extinction, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential, examining diffusion-limited cluster aggregation (DLCA) and reaction-limited cluster aggregation (RLCA) mechanisms. The optimal results were achieved without KNO₃, with more compact aggregates at lower concentrations and more branched ones at higher concentrations. Dilution of the Ag colloid before salt addition enabled lower detection limits than without any dilution. No SERS signal was observed when the salt was added before dilution. These findings emphasize that a consistent relationship between aggregate morphology and the SERS signal cannot be generalized across analytes. Analyte-specific properties play a crucial role in determining optimal aggregation conditions for SERS analysis.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/13/1/22aggregation mechanismcarbendazimSERSdetection |
| spellingShingle | Isabela Bianchi-Carvalho Marcelo José dos Santos Oliveira Cibely Silva Martin Santiago Sánchez-Cortés Carlos José Leopoldo Constantino Influence of Sample Preparation on SERS Signal Chemosensors aggregation mechanism carbendazim SERS detection |
| title | Influence of Sample Preparation on SERS Signal |
| title_full | Influence of Sample Preparation on SERS Signal |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Sample Preparation on SERS Signal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Sample Preparation on SERS Signal |
| title_short | Influence of Sample Preparation on SERS Signal |
| title_sort | influence of sample preparation on sers signal |
| topic | aggregation mechanism carbendazim SERS detection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/13/1/22 |
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