Plasmonic MOF Thin Films with Raman Internal Standard for Fast and Ultrasensitive SERS Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents in Ambient Air

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful spectroscopic technique for selective detection and quantification of molecules at extremely low concentrations. However, practical SERS applications gaseous chemicals with small cross section still in its early stages. We herein report plasmonic-sorbent thin-film platform integrated internal standard outstanding sensing capabilities chemical warfare agents (CWA) simulants. The thin film constituted close-packed core–shell Au@Ag nanorods individually encapsulated within ZIF-8 framework (Au@Ag@ZIF-8). While the nanoparticles amplify signal located near their surface, plays key role trapping dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) or 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) from gas phase as well standard. underlying adsorption mechanism interaction between DMMP Ag surface are investigated by computational simulations. Outstanding Au@Ag@ZIF-8 films, terms response time, limit, reproducibility, recyclability, demonstrated (CEES), selected CWA simulants sarin mustard gas, respectively. A limit (LOD) 0.2 ppbV reported DMMP. Additionally, experiments performed portable equipment detect 2.5 ppmV ambient air 76 CEES N2, times 21 54 s, This proof concept opens door handheld SERS-based ultralow concentrations applications, such homeland security, critical infrastructure protection, process monitoring, personalized medicine.