Multilayer silver nanoparticles-modified optical fiber tip for high performance SERS remote sensing.

This work presents the construction and optimization of nanoparticles-modified optical fiber tip (NPs-MOFT) devices for remote sensing by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were self-assembled on optical fiber tips through a "layer-by-layer" procedure. It is shown that the SERS performance is at optimum when 5 "layers" of 50 nm Ag-NPs were deposited on the optical fiber tip. Using the optimized Ag-NPs-MOFT device, it was possible to detect 200 nM of the R6G dye in remote sensing mode (backscattering through the fiber). It was also possible to detect dye molecules with different structures and charges at the micro-molar concentration level, including anions, cations and neutral species. It can be envisioned that the Ag-NPs-MOFT device reported in this work can be further developed for SERS-based remote biosensing.