Unlocking new possibility of FeO@C@Ag nanostructures as an advanced SERS substrate for ultrasensitive detection of low-cross-section urea biomolecules.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is widely recognized as a powerful analytical technique, offering molecular identification by amplifying characteristic vibrational signals, even at the single-molecule level. While SERS has been successfully applied for a wide range of targets including pesticides, dyes, bacteria, and pharmaceuticals, it has struggled with the detection of molecules with inherently low Raman scattering cross-sections. Urea, a key nitrogen-containing biomolecule and the diamide of carbonic acid, is a prime example of such a challenging target.

Activating SERS Signals of Inactive Analytes: Creating an Energy Bridge between Metal/Molecule Energy Alignment via Metal/Semiconductor Transitions.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique, yet it faces challenges with certain probe molecules exhibiting weak or inactive signals, limiting their applicability. In a recent study, we investigated this phenomenon using a set of four probe molecules─chloramphenicol (CAP), 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), amoxicillin (AMX), and furazolidone (FZD)─deposited on Ag-based nanostructured SERS substrates. Despite being measured under identical conditions, CAP and 4-NP exhibited SERS activity, while AMX and FZD did not.

Flexible paper-based Ag dendritic SERS chips for rapid detection of thiram residues on pear skin.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful, highly efficient analytical technique capable of providing label-free, non-invasive, rapid, and ultrasensitive molecular detection down to the single-molecule level. Despite its advantages, SERS remains largely confined to laboratory settings due to the complexities of substrate fabrication and challenges in analyzing real-world samples. Developing flexible SERS substrates that achieve both high fabrication efficiency and high sensing performance, while being practical for field applications, is critical for advancing SERS toward broader, real-world use.

Flexible SERS chips for rapid on-site detection of tricyclazole pesticide in agricultural products.

A flexible, ultrasensitive, and practical SERS chip is presented based on a paper/f-TiO/Ag structure. The chip enhances the self-assembly of Ag nanoparticles on a cellulose fiber matrix, facilitated by smart functionalized TiO nanomaterials (f-TiO). This design enables superior detection of the hazardous pesticide tricyclazole (TCZ) on crops using an advanced, simple, and efficient analytical method.

Promising deep-red emitting Cr-doped SrAlO phosphors for plant growth LEDs.

Recently, deep-red-emitting phosphors that can be excited by ultraviolet (UV) and near-ultraviolet (NUV) light have been extensively investigated for plant growth LED applications. However, due to the harmful effects of these high-energy rays on plants, violet- or blue-excited deep-red-emitting phosphors are considered a more appropriate solution. In this work, SrAlO:Cr phosphors were synthesized using a simple solid-state reaction, revealing a strikingly sharp deep-red emission band centered at 694 nm and effective excitation by violet light.

Rational design of magnetically separable core/shell FeO/ZnO heterostructures for enhanced visible-light photodegradation performance.

Magnetically separable core/shell FeO/ZnO heteronanostructures (MSCSFZ) were synthesized by a facile approach, and their application for enhanced solar photodegradation of RhB was studied. The formation mechanism of MSCSFZ was proposed, in which FeO nanoparticles served as a template for supporting and anchoring the ZnO crystal layer as the shells. The morphology of MSCSFZ can be varied from spherical to rice seed-like structures, and the bandgap was able to be narrowed down to 2.

Rapid and sensitive detection of Rhodamine B in food using the plasmonic silver nanocube-based sensor as SERS active substrate.

The use of dye in food is harmful to human health and is prohibited nowadays. However, it is still used because of the benefits, such as cheap prices and abundant resources. Rhodamine B is usually used as the colorant in food such as chili powder, chili oil, etc.