Immersion-plated palladium nanoparticles onto meso-porous silicon layer as novel SERS substrate for sensitive detection of imidacloprid pesticide

Abstract Herein, we demonstrate the effectiveness of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to detect trace concentration potentially harmful imidacloprid pesticide. To achieve this ultimate objective, a rapid and highly effective methodology for fabrication active stable porous silicon (PSi) plated palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) SERS substrates by an electrochemical anodization immersion plating routes was applied. The PSi layers were fabricated wafer in ethanoic fluoride solution, followed uniformly deposition PdNPs via simple technique. structural features morphology frameworks PSi-Pd NPs have been investigated field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), diffraction (XRD), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra. substrate demonstrates meso-porous good distribution, pore density average sizes around 20 nm. performance Si–Pd PSi–Pd has examined taking (an insecticide) as target analyte. signal using exhibited immense enhancement compared Si-Pd substrate. revealed excellent detectable low 10 –9 M factor (EF) 1.2 × 5 . This large EF is fundamentally ascribed combined effect electromagnetic improvement charge transfer mechanisms. Additionally, no aging observed present kept air two weeks. Striking spectral signals obtained current can provide smooth platform towards sensitive detection various analytes.