Silver nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) SERS sensor for multiple analytes

Selectivity and enhanced sensitivity for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates are highly desirable attributes for their analytical applications. SERS substrate interaction with target molecules plays a key role in determining the enhancement magnitude and spectral profile of the SERS signal as well as their applications. Herein, we demonstrate a SERS active substrate based on reduced graphene oxide/silver nanoparticles (rGO/Ag NPs) composite material synthesized by a facile wet chemical route. The Ag NPs decorated rGO nanosheet has been achieved by reducing AgNO₃ with ethylene glycol in the presence of poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and NaCl over layered graphene oxide. The addition of PVP stimulates the nano-phase growth as well as uniform distribution of the Ag NPs on rGO nanosheet. The well synthesized rGO/Ag composite was confirmed by using various characterization techniques such as FESEM, HRTEM, XRD, FTIR and Raman. Further, the rGO/Ag NPs composite material has been utilized as a platform for SERS based selective detection of Rhodamine-6G, 4-mercapto benzoic acid, and 2,4-dinitrotoluene analytes. The rGO/Ag NPs substrate demonstrates good homogeneity, stability and nanomolar sensitivity with Raman intensity enhancement of the order of 5 for Rh-6G and 4-MBA whereas 3 for 2,4-DNT. The observed enhancement of SERS signal for all the analytes has been attributes to the cumulative effect of rGO and Ag NPs.