Surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of toluene and dichlorobenzene vapors using 1-propanethiol-linked Ag nanoparticles

Abstract

We have detected the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals of toluene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene (ODCB) vapors at parts per million concentrations using 1-propanethiol-linked Ag nanoparticles and a fiber optics-coupled Raman spectrograph. Calibration curves were constructed for each detector by plotting Raman band intensity ratios of toluene and ODCB with respect to that of 1-propanethiol as a function of vapor concentration. The detectors showed effective vapor sensing ranges of 0.6 to 600 and 10 to 600 ppm for toluene and ODCB, respectively, following vapor adsorption to the SERS hot spots. We provide evidence for the facility of the SERS detection system for instantaneously discriminating and quantifying respective vapors from a composite vapor. © 2014 The Authors.