Novel nanomaterials as plasmonic sensors for surface-enhanced raman spectroscopy

The SERS substrates covered the range from paper-based hydrogel nanoparticle matrices to polymer-supported nanoparticle arrays. Hydrogel-based nanoparticle arrays and sandwich films were also developed in this work.

The paper-based films are shown to be effective for filtering out interfering substances. The SENS substrates, where 2-Darrays of particles were transferred to the surface of a HEC support were also successful in allowing SERS measurements of samples dissolved in organic solvents and combining SERS with liquid-liquid extraction methods. The work on detection of gas phase DMDS was successful both because the work allowed the detection limit to significantly improved and because it led to the discovery that the key reaction in the detection was plasmonically mediated.<br><br><i>Thesis embargoed until 31st December 2029</i>