Enhancing the Activity of Silver Nanowire Membranes by Electrochemical Cyclic Voltammetry as Highly Sensitive Flexible SERS Substrate for On-Site Analysis

The development of high-quality flexible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates is crucial for developing rapid SERS analysis in situ. Silver nanowire membranes as novel flexible substrates could benefit from the high collection efficiency of analytes by wrapping complex surfaces or w...

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Main Authors: Rui Zhang, Yongchao Lai, Jinhua Zhan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/3/672
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author Rui Zhang
Yongchao Lai
Jinhua Zhan
author_facet Rui Zhang
Yongchao Lai
Jinhua Zhan
author_sort Rui Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The development of high-quality flexible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates is crucial for developing rapid SERS analysis in situ. Silver nanowire membranes as novel flexible substrates could benefit from the high collection efficiency of analytes by wrapping complex surfaces or wiping the surfaces of samples. However, their low SERS performance impedes further applications of silver nanowire membranes in analyte detection. Herein, we report an ultra-high-sensitivity silver nanowire membrane synthesized by a simple and time-saving cyclic voltammetry (CV) method. After CV treatment, a part of the silver nanowires on the silver nanowire membrane turned into small nanoparticles and nanorods. This nanostructure’s reconstitution increased the analytical enhancement factor of silver nanowire membranes by 14.4 times. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to investigate the transformation in the membrane nanostructure. The CV-treated substrates exhibited high surface-enhanced Raman activity and good temporal stability. The limits of detection (LODs) for <i>p</i>-aminothiophenol, crystal violet, tetramethylthiuram disulfide, sodium perchlorate, malachite green, fluoranthene, and potassium nitrate are 3.7 × 10<sup>−12</sup> M, 5.1 × 10<sup>−11</sup> M, 5.4 × 10<sup>−11</sup> M, 6.3 × 10<sup>−9</sup> M, 0.00693 ng, 0.0810 ng, and 0.0273 ng on this substrate, respectively. Additionally, the developed substrate is feasible for the detection of crystal violet in real samples. These results certify that CV-treated substrates possess broad application prospects in on-site SERS analysis.
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spelling doaj.art-87dde65d5bad4dddaafa1183b943a5d52023-11-21T09:41:21ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912021-03-0111367210.3390/nano11030672Enhancing the Activity of Silver Nanowire Membranes by Electrochemical Cyclic Voltammetry as Highly Sensitive Flexible SERS Substrate for On-Site AnalysisRui Zhang0Yongchao Lai1Jinhua Zhan2Key Laboratory for Colloid & Interface Chemistry of Education Ministry, Department of Chemistry, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, ChinaShandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, ChinaKey Laboratory for Colloid & Interface Chemistry of Education Ministry, Department of Chemistry, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, ChinaThe development of high-quality flexible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates is crucial for developing rapid SERS analysis in situ. Silver nanowire membranes as novel flexible substrates could benefit from the high collection efficiency of analytes by wrapping complex surfaces or wiping the surfaces of samples. However, their low SERS performance impedes further applications of silver nanowire membranes in analyte detection. Herein, we report an ultra-high-sensitivity silver nanowire membrane synthesized by a simple and time-saving cyclic voltammetry (CV) method. After CV treatment, a part of the silver nanowires on the silver nanowire membrane turned into small nanoparticles and nanorods. This nanostructure’s reconstitution increased the analytical enhancement factor of silver nanowire membranes by 14.4 times. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to investigate the transformation in the membrane nanostructure. The CV-treated substrates exhibited high surface-enhanced Raman activity and good temporal stability. The limits of detection (LODs) for <i>p</i>-aminothiophenol, crystal violet, tetramethylthiuram disulfide, sodium perchlorate, malachite green, fluoranthene, and potassium nitrate are 3.7 × 10<sup>−12</sup> M, 5.1 × 10<sup>−11</sup> M, 5.4 × 10<sup>−11</sup> M, 6.3 × 10<sup>−9</sup> M, 0.00693 ng, 0.0810 ng, and 0.0273 ng on this substrate, respectively. Additionally, the developed substrate is feasible for the detection of crystal violet in real samples. These results certify that CV-treated substrates possess broad application prospects in on-site SERS analysis.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/3/672surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopynanostructures reconstitutionsilver nanowirescyclic voltammetryswabbing extraction
spellingShingle Rui Zhang
Yongchao Lai
Jinhua Zhan
Enhancing the Activity of Silver Nanowire Membranes by Electrochemical Cyclic Voltammetry as Highly Sensitive Flexible SERS Substrate for On-Site Analysis
Nanomaterials
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
nanostructures reconstitution
silver nanowires
cyclic voltammetry
swabbing extraction
title Enhancing the Activity of Silver Nanowire Membranes by Electrochemical Cyclic Voltammetry as Highly Sensitive Flexible SERS Substrate for On-Site Analysis
title_full Enhancing the Activity of Silver Nanowire Membranes by Electrochemical Cyclic Voltammetry as Highly Sensitive Flexible SERS Substrate for On-Site Analysis
title_fullStr Enhancing the Activity of Silver Nanowire Membranes by Electrochemical Cyclic Voltammetry as Highly Sensitive Flexible SERS Substrate for On-Site Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing the Activity of Silver Nanowire Membranes by Electrochemical Cyclic Voltammetry as Highly Sensitive Flexible SERS Substrate for On-Site Analysis
title_short Enhancing the Activity of Silver Nanowire Membranes by Electrochemical Cyclic Voltammetry as Highly Sensitive Flexible SERS Substrate for On-Site Analysis
title_sort enhancing the activity of silver nanowire membranes by electrochemical cyclic voltammetry as highly sensitive flexible sers substrate for on site analysis
topic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
nanostructures reconstitution
silver nanowires
cyclic voltammetry
swabbing extraction
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/3/672
work_keys_str_mv AT ruizhang enhancingtheactivityofsilvernanowiremembranesbyelectrochemicalcyclicvoltammetryashighlysensitiveflexibleserssubstrateforonsiteanalysis
AT yongchaolai enhancingtheactivityofsilvernanowiremembranesbyelectrochemicalcyclicvoltammetryashighlysensitiveflexibleserssubstrateforonsiteanalysis
AT jinhuazhan enhancingtheactivityofsilvernanowiremembranesbyelectrochemicalcyclicvoltammetryashighlysensitiveflexibleserssubstrateforonsiteanalysis