| Title: | Surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensors for biomedical and molecular detection applications in space |
| Author(s): | Snitka V; Batiuskaite D; Bruzaite I; Lafont U; Butenko Y; Semprimoschnig C; |
| Address: | "Research Center for Microsystems and Nanotechnology, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentu 65, Kaunas, Lithuania. GRID: grid.6901.e. ISNI: 0000 0001 1091 4533 Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, 58 K.Donelaicio str., 44248 Kaunas, Lithuania. GRID: grid.19190.30. ISNI: 0000 0001 2325 0545 Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, 10223 Vilnius, Lithuania. GRID: grid.9424.b. ISNI: 0000 0004 1937 1776 European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), European Space Agency (ESA), Keplerlaan 1, Postbus 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands. GRID: grid.424669.b. ISNI: 0000 0004 1797 969X" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s12567-021-00356-6 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1868-2510 (Electronic) 1868-2502 (Print) 1868-2502 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The detection of molecular traces in the environment is a technical problem that is critical in pollutant control procedures at all stages of spacecraft assembly, in space flight, as well as in other technological processes such as food production, medical diagnostics, environmental control, warfare. However, in the aerospace industry, it is necessary to detect molecular traces of contaminants with extreme sensitivity, as even concentrations as low as part-per-billion (ppb) can be critical during long missions. The high sensitivity of the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) detection within the air can be a challenge because of the poor affinity of VOC's to the metal surface of the sensor substrate. In this work, we present a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy technique as a highly sensitive and selective molecular sensor for gas trace detection not sensitive to molecules adsorbtion on sensing element. The developed hybrid SERS platform for molecular trace detection is supported by the hybrid nanoplasmonic porous silicon membrane in conjunction with micropump to achieve the trace level detection of VOCs in the environment. The combination of silicon membrane, made by electrochemical etching of the microchannels in the silicon chip, with chemical deposition of the silver nanoparticles inside the channels, produce a porous Ag nanoparticles membrane with a high density of plasmonic nanostructures ('hot spots'). The micropump integrated with the SERS sensor, pump the air with VOC's molecules through the plasmonic membrane 'hot spots' to increase the probability of interaction of VOC's molecules with SERS substrate and to increase the enhancement factor. The sensor chip structure was designed, gas flow in the sensor was simulated, and the sensor was fabricated using 3D printing. The limit of detection of hydrazine with concentration level 10(-12) M from solution and the vapor phase 0.1 ppm was demonstrated. The anisole vapors with concentration 0.5 ppb spectra in the air were recorded. Our results demonstrate that plasmonic membrane can be used as a high enhancement factor SERS sensor for many pollutants molecules detection with the nanomolar sensitivity and can be applied in the design of sensors for space applications, environment control, biomedical diagnostic. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12567-021-00356-6" |
| Keywords: | Sensing Surface-enhanced Raman scattering Volatile compounds; |
| Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINESnitka, Valentinas Batiuskaite, Danute Bruzaite, Ingrida Lafont, Ugo Butenko, Yuriy Semprimoschnig, Christopher eng Austria 2021/11/16 CEAS Space J. 2021; 13(3):509-520. doi: 10.1007/s12567-021-00356-6. Epub 2021 Mar 8" |
