Ag nanoparticles prepared by laser photoreduction as substrates for in situ surface-enhanced Raman scattering analysis of dyes.

In this work Ag nanoparticles (AgNP) with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity were prepared and immobilized by laser irradiation on a water/ solid interface where the aqueous phase contains the Ag+ cation and the solid surface is of hydrophilic nature (glass and cellulose). The so-prepared AgNP demonstrated a high SERS effectiveness in the detection of dispersed adsorbates such as the case of the anthraquinonic dye alizarin. The size and SERS effectiveness of AgNP increases with the irradiation time, the laser power, and the cation concentration. Laser-induced AgNP can be classified into two classes attending to the morphology: spherical and planar. The latter are formed after longer irradiation times, being more active regarding the SERS efficiency. Ag photoreduction can be employed for in situ detection of the dye alizarin, but when the dye is placed on a hydrophilic substrate. Even so, this in situ SERS technique could be attractive for analytical applications involving the in situ detection of the analyzed species, such as the case of dyes in artistical objects, textiles, foods, and surface analysis in general.