Preparation of a self-cleanable molecularly imprinted sensor based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for selective detection of R6G

Hongji Li, Zirun Wang, Xiaonan Wang, Jiaqi Jiang, Yeqing Xu, Xiqing Liu, Yongsheng Yan, Chunxiang Li

Novel molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) based on the technique of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) were successfully prepared. Firstly, ZnO nanorods were fabricated with Ag by reduction of Ag(+) on the surface of the ZnO nanorods. Then, ZnO/Ag heterostructures were used as the substrate, rhodamine 6G was used as the template molecule, acrylamide was used as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate was used as the cross-linker, and 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) was used as the initiator to prepare the ZnO/Ag MIPs (ZOA-MIPs). Through characterization analysis, it was proved that the novel ZOA-MIPs exhibited excellent SERS properties and selectivity. Under the optimal conditions, there was a good linear relationship (R (2) = 0.996) between the Raman signal (at 1654 cm(-1)) and the concentration of the templates, and the detection limit was 10(-13) mol L(-1). It was also proved that the ZOA-MIPs had the property of self-cleaning, resulting in good reusability. It is envisaged that the sensitivity of SERS coupled with the selectivity of MIPs could result in a promising chemosensor for practical applications.