SERS analyses of thiamethoxam assisted by Ag films and nanostructures produced by laser techniques

This study deals with the use of laser techniques for preparation of advanced Ag nanostructure on quartz substrates that can be applied in high-resolution analyses, namely, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The active system was a two dimensional array of nanoparticles produced by laser annealing of thin silver film. The optical and morphological properties of the nanostructure were compared with those of an as deposited thin film in order to estimate their role in the detection efficiency. The activity of the structures fabricated as substrates for SERS of usually applied in agricultural medicine small quantities of Aktara 25 BG (thiamethoxam) insecticide was tested. To the best of our knowledge, SERS spectra of Aktara 25 BG are presented for the first time. The minimum detected concentration of thiamethoxam was evaluated to be in the order of g/ml. The simple fabrication method and demonstrated efficiency focus the presented study to direct bearing on the human health and food quality area as a way of assisting the detection of small amounts or residue of harmful pollutants.