Gold-nanoparticle-embedded polydimethylsiloxane elastomers for highly sensitive Raman detection.

A simple, convenient, and efficient method for highly sensitive Raman detection is made by using a Au nanoparticle (AuNP)-embedded polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer, referred to as AuNP-PDMS. When this AuNP-PDMS layer is applied to a surface, it can dramatically enhance the Raman signal of detected molecules. Moreover, it can be used for sensitive chemical imaging on solid substrates. As a proof of concept, patterned chemical images of p-aminothiophenol and methylene blue on a Ag substrate are obtained after this chemically patterned Ag substrate is covered by AuNP-PDMS.