Construction of Ultrasensitive Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Substates Based on TiO2 Aerogels

Recent advances in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on semiconductor substrates offer this technology improved selectivity on top of other advantages, such as cost efficiency. However, the enhancement factor (EF) based on the semiconductors is still low compared with the noble metal substrates. Here, a new strategy of developing the semiconductor substrates based on aerogels is proposed for the first time. According to the modified Herzberg-Teller coupling rule, TiO2 aerogels are selected as the control object because of their large tunability. The surface area, amorphousness, and surface oxygen vacancy densities of TiO2 aerogels are regulated synergically. Due to the tuning of band structure, including band gap and defect band, multiresonant interband charge transfer (CT) pathways are generated and enhanced CT efficiency. A strong, intrinsically activated SERS effect is generated. Amorphous TiO2 aerogel with the highest surface oxygen vacancies shows a significant EF of 2.42 x 10(7), and TiO2 aerogels afford the large surface area and more active sites, which is conducive to promoting the adsorption of molecules. The aerogel-based SERS is demonstrated to have wide applicability for ultrasensitive detection of explosives and organic dyes. The aerogel nanomaterials demonstrated here open a way for the construction of low-cost and high-sensitivity SERS substrate materials.

Automated summary

Recent advances in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on semiconductor substrates have improved selectivity and cost efficiency. This study proposes a new strategy of developing semiconductor substrates based on aerogels, such as TiO2 aerogels, to generate and enhance multiresonant interband charge transfer pathways for intrinsically activated SERS. The aerogel-based SERS shows wide applicability for ultrasensitive detection of explosives and organic dyes, and provides a new approach for constructing low-cost and high-sensitivity SERS substrate materials.