Rapid detection of estrogen compounds using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy with a Zn/Au-Ag/Ag sandwich-structured substrate

In this paper, SERS substrates with Zn/Au-Ag/Ag sandwich-structures are prepared for detection of estrogen compounds. The substrates exhibit a high SERS activity for the rough surface with massive Raman "hot spots" and the interfacial charge transfer that favors the measured molecule adsorption. With the substrates, the estrogen compounds, estrone (E1) and beta -estradiol (E2), show characteristic Raman spectral features with different laser exciting wavelengths, and have little interference from humic acids, potential environmental presence The proposed technique, with initially established concentration-SERS relationships, demonstrates high sensitivity with a wide dynamic range, and is very promising for further application to investigate the occurrence, transport and transformation of estrogens in natural environmental samples. ABSTRACT In this paper, SERS substrates with Zn/Au-Ag/Ag sandwich-structures are prepared for detection of estrogen compounds. The substrates exhibit a high SERS activity for the rough surface with massive Raman "hot spots" and the interfacial charge transfer that favors the measured molecule adsorption. With the substrates, the estrogen compounds, estrone (E1) and beta -estradiol (E2), show characteristic Raman spectral features with different laser exciting wavelengths, and have little interference from humic acids, potential environmental presence The proposed technique, with initially established concentration-SERS relationships, demonstrates high sensitivity with a wide dynamic range, and is very promising for further application to investigate the occurrence, transport and transformation of estrogens in natural environmental samples.