SERS-active sorbent based on aluminum oxide loaded with silver nanoparticles

The article describes development and application of new SERS-active sorbents for combination of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with solid-phase extraction ( SPE). These sorbents are based on aluminum oxide powder loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNP) and have been used for analyte pre-concentration with further direct detection on sorbent surface by SERS. Proposed sorbent synthesis is very easy and inexpensive while embedding of previously prepared non-aggregated or artificially aggregated AgNP to alumina matrix allows tuning optical properties and increasing Raman spectra enhancement. Surface modification of the sorbent via polyelectrolyte molecules was carried out as well in order to regulate surface charge and sorption properties. Thus, described approach can be further applied for analysis of multicomponent mixtures via SPE separation with further SERS detection. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.