Advanced silver and gold substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of pesticides

Silver and gold nanostructures were fabricated by thermal deposition followed by laser annealing on novel type substrates - diamond abrasive films and scratched quartz plates. The morphology and optical properties of the nanostructures were studied and they were applied for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of the insecticide Karate Zeon 5 CS (lambda-cyhalothrin). The limit of detection of about approximate to 50 mu M was estimated. Advanced substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of pesticides were developed. For this purpose alumina, quartz, paper, and diamond abrasive films substrates were used on which silver and gold nanostructures were produced using pulsed laser, ion-beam or thermal deposition, and laser annealing. The effectiveness of these active substrates for detecting several pesticides was evaluated and discussed.