Au-Pt-Pd spherically self-assembled nano-sieves as SERS sensors

Abstract

A series of unique granular and petaloid Au-capped Pt-Pd spherically-assembled nano-sieves (Au-PP SANSs) - with diameters smaller than 100 nm, combining quasi-regularly integrated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active nanocrystals and a functional amphiphilic organic frame - have been successfully synthesized through a facile chemical route with a temperature-sensitive triblock copolymer soft template. Further, it has been demonstrated that they are potential candidates for developing highly-selective molecule-sieve assisted SERS sensors. The combination of the superposed inorganic and organic dual-core shell structures in Au-PP SANSs acts as a molecular sieve, which plays a crucial role in the promising chemical selectivity, which helps distinguish polar malachite green oxalate salt and non-polar thiabendazole molecules. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.