Carbonized polyacrylonitrile array as a sensitive, biocompatible, and durable substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), which uses surface-sensitive resonances, is an extension of Raman spectroscopy. The SERS method has rapidly emerged as one of the leading analytical techniques with successful applications in many fields. In spite of this, there are still some obstacles that must be overcome before SERS substrates are applied to practical systems, including poor repeatability, uniformity, biocompatibility, and durability. To overcome all these problems, we demonstrate the design, synthesis, and use of a carbonized polyacrylonitrile array as a highly sensitive substrate for the development of biocompatible, consistent, uniform, and durable SERS. Additionally, because of its potent wideband charge-transfer resonance, it offers excellent signal enhancement (105), as well as extraordinary high reproducibility by eliminating hot spots, high biocompatibility, and high durability on account of its oxidation resistance. A carbonized PAN array was designed and applied as an effective SERS substrate. It provided a significant signal enhancement (& SIM;105) with its strong broadband charge-transfer resonance and high reproducibility and consistency in the SERS spectrum.

Automated summary

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a widely used analytical technique with successful applications in many fields. However, there are still challenges to be addressed before SERS substrates can be applied in practical systems, including poor repeatability, uniformity, biocompatibility, and durability. To overcome these challenges, a carbonized polyacrylonitrile array is designed and synthesized, serving as a highly sensitive and biocompatible SERS substrate with excellent signal enhancement, reproducibility, and durability.