SERS detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using a bare gold nanoparticles coupled film system

A facile approach based on a bare gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) coupled film system as the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate was developed for the effective detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A smooth gold film (Au film) was self-assembled with a hydrophobic layer of an alkyl chain in order to capture the PAHs molecules from bulk solution to its surface. Next, the bare gold nanoparticles, about 60 nm in diameter without functional modification, were paved onto the PAHs-molecule-coated Au film. This was aimed at generating a plasmon coupling effect to illuminate a stronger electromagnetic field within the gaps between particles and film, exactly where the absorbed molecules were located. The effects of the Au film, alkyl chain, and Au NPs on the SERS response to PAHs were respectively investigated. Through utilizing this simple system, a reproducible and interference-free SERS detection was demonstrated. Furthermore, the excellent detection ability to sense a series of PAHs was achieved with low concentrations of 1.2 × 10−8 M, 2.0 × 10−8 M, 5.5 × 10−8 M, and 6.3 × 10−8 M for benzo[b]fluoranthene, fluoranthene, benzo[a]anthracene, and pyrene, respectively. This method, capable of sample preparation and SERS measurement on a portable carrier, would be an ideal candidate for practical applications under field conditions.