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Meniscus‐Confined 3D Printed Nanoparticles: A Comparative Study of Quantitative SERS Detection of Microplastics
Summary
Detecting microplastics accurately in environmental samples is technically challenging, and this study introduces a new approach using 3D-printed silver and gold nanoparticle surfaces that amplify the light signal from microplastics when analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. Both types of printed substrates could detect plastic particles at concentrations as low as 0.3–1.2 micrograms per milliliter, with high reproducibility across dozens of repeated measurements. This technology could make routine, sensitive microplastic monitoring faster and more practical for environmental agencies and researchers.
ABSTRACT This study presents a novel approach to microplastic detection using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates fabricated via a meniscus‐confined electrochemical 3D printing (MC‐E3DP) process. We developed two types of SERS‐active substrates: 3D printed silver (M3Ag) and gold nanoparticles (M3Au), each optimized for structure and performance. The M3Ag substrate, prepared using precise control over printing parameters, successfully detected Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microplastics within the range of 1‐10 3 µg ml −1 , with a detection limit as low as 0.3 µg ml −1 and an enhancement factor (EF) up to 1.6 × 10 3 . Notably, the M3Ag substrate exhibited excellent reproducibility across 34 measurements with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of only 5.7%. Similarly, the M3Au substrate, fabricated using a 0.8 mm nozzle and 0.4 mm s −1 printing speed at 2.5 V, demonstrated strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects, allowing detection down to 1.2 µg ml −1 in the range of 1‐10 3 µg ml −1 with an EF up to 1.5 × 10 3 and an RSD of 5.4%. Real sample analysis showed promising recovery values, 88% for M3Ag and 94% for M3Au, confirming their practical applicability. Overall, MC‐E3DP offers a robust and sensitive platform for the reliable detection of microplastics in environmental samples.