High performance Au/Ag core/shell bipyramids for determination of thiram based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Au/Ag core/shell bipyramids were used as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates to determine the thiram. The metallic substrates showed high SERS performance and are very suitable for the analytical sensors. The fabrication and characterization of the Au/Ag core/shell bipyramids were described. The influence of experimental parameters, such as the thickness of Ag shell of the bipyramids, sodium chloride concentration, and pH value on SERS of thiram was examined and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, thiram molecules were effectively adsorbed onto bipyramids and the SERS intensity is proportional to the concentration of thiram in the range of 3.3 to 400.0?ng?mL1. The corresponding correlation coefficient of the linear equation is 0.997, which indicates that there is a good linear relationship between SERS intensity and thiram concentration. The limit of detection for thiram is 2.0?ng?mL1. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method is a viable method for determination of thiram. Some environmental water samples were analyzed and the analytical results were satisfactory. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.