Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Fluorescence Quenching SERS Detection: a 2D MoS2 Platform Modified with a Large π‐Conjugated Organic Molecule for Bacterial Detection

Despite its title referencing SERS detection, this paper studies a specialized sensor material for detecting bacteria in very low concentrations using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy — not microplastic pollution. It examines a MoS2-based heterostructure that improves detection sensitivity by suppressing fluorescence interference, and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.

2025 Laser & Photonics Review 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Study of microplastics as sorbents for rapid detection of multiple antibiotics in water based on SERS technology

Researchers used polyethylene microplastics as sorbents combined with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology to rapidly detect multiple antibiotic residues in water, demonstrating that microplastics' tendency to adsorb contaminants can be repurposed as a tool for environmental monitoring.

2022 Spectrochimica Acta Part A Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Advanced microplastic monitoring using Raman spectroscopy with a combination of nanostructure-based substrates

Researchers reviewed advances in Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) — a technique that amplifies light signals using metallic nanostructures — for detecting micro- and nanoplastics at trace concentrations in environmental samples, highlighting new plasmonic materials, 3D substrates, and microfluidic chip platforms that enable on-site monitoring.

2022 Journal of nanostructure in chemistry 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of nanoplastics through low-cost SERS substrates, based on 3D islands of aggregated gold nanoparticles on aluminum foil, for wide ranging applications

Researchers developed a low-cost surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate by combining aluminium foil with 3D aggregates of gold nanoparticles stabilised by cucurbit[5]uril, enabling sensitive nanoplastic detection through plasmonic coupling. The substrate achieved trace-level analyte detection and offers a practical, scalable approach for nanoplastic identification across a wide range of environmental and analytical applications.

2024
Article Tier 2

Bacterial Nanocellulose Membrane Deposited with Silver Nanoparticles for SERS Detection of Microplastics

Researchers developed a flexible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate by depositing well-dispersed silver nanoparticles onto bacterial nanocellulose membranes, achieving a Raman signal enhancement factor of up to 331 for polyethylene solutions at 0.1 g/L. The substrate combines the electromagnetic enhancement of AgNPs with the flexible, porous structure of bacterial nanocellulose for practical microplastic detection applications.

2025 The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Article Tier 2

Simultaneous detection of nanoplastics and adsorbed pesticides by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Researchers used Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) with silver and gold nanoparticles to simultaneously detect nanoplastic particles and pesticides adsorbed onto their surfaces at environmentally relevant concentrations. The technique successfully identified both the plastic carrier and the co-transported contaminant in a single measurement, demonstrating its utility for assessing the combined hazard of nanoplastic-pesticide complexes.

2025 NanoImpact
Article Tier 2

Nano-arrayed Cu2S@MoS2 heterojunction SERS sensor for highly sensitive and visual detection of polystyrene in environmental matrices

Researchers developed a noble-metal-free semiconductor heterojunction sensor using Cu2S and MoS2 that can detect polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) down to 50 µg/mL, offering a cost-effective and visually interpretable alternative to conventional plastic detection methods.

2025 Talanta 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Hydrophobicity-driven self-assembly of nanoplastics and silver nanoparticles for the detection of polystyrene microspheres using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Researchers developed a highly sensitive method for detecting nanoplastic particles using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) on a super-hydrophobic (water-repelling) surface that concentrates the particles into a small spot. The technique detected polystyrene nanoplastics at concentrations as low as 0.5 mg/L, far below what conventional approaches can achieve. Better detection tools for nanoplastics are urgently needed since these ultra-small particles are the hardest to find yet potentially the most biologically hazardous fraction of plastic pollution.

2023 Chemosphere 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Urchin-like covalent organic frameworks templated Au@Ag composites for SERS detection of emerging contaminants

Researchers fabricated gold-silver core-shell composites on urchin-like covalent organic frameworks to create a highly sensitive platform for detecting trace contaminants using Raman spectroscopy. The material successfully detected sulfonamide antibiotics and polystyrene nanoplastics at very low concentrations using a portable spectrometer. The study demonstrates a practical approach for field-based detection of emerging environmental contaminants at parts-per-billion levels.

2024 Chemical Communications 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Plasmon Enhanced Universal SERS Detection of Hierarchical Plastics by 3D Plasmonic Funnel Metastructure

Researchers developed a 3D plasmonic nanostructure — a specialized surface covered in densely packed gold nanocones — that can detect microplastics and nanoplastics in water at extremely low concentrations using a technique called surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The device achieved detection limits as low as 10 nanograms per liter and could simultaneously identify plastics ranging from 30 nanometers to several micrometers. This kind of ultrasensitive, versatile sensor addresses a major gap: current detection tools struggle with the smallest plastic particles, which are also the most biologically concerning. The approach could support both environmental monitoring and research into nanoplastic behavior.

2025 Advanced Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Latest Advances and Developments to Detection of Micro‐ and Nanoplastics Using Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

This review examines the latest developments in using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect micro- and nanoplastics in various environmental samples. Researchers found that SERS offers significantly improved sensitivity compared to conventional methods, enabling detection of smaller plastic particles. The study suggests that SERS-based approaches hold promise for advancing nanoplastic detection, though challenges around standardization and reproducibility remain.

2022 Particle & Particle Systems Characterization 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of a simple SERS substrate for the detection of pollutants and nanoplastics

Researchers fabricated silver- and gold-coated silicon SERS substrates and demonstrated their ability to detect nanoplastic particles as small as 50 nm by Raman mapping, achieving picomolar sensitivity for model compounds and showing strong potential for environmental monitoring of nanoplastics in food and water.

2025 Spectrochimica Acta Part A Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Fabrication of Bowl Array Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Substrates via Ag Nanoparticle Self-Assembly on Polymer UV-Imprinted Microbowls for Enhanced Raman Detection of Microplastics

Researchers fabricated bowl-array surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates by depositing silver nanoparticles via self-assembly onto UV-imprinted polymer microbowls, creating 50-micrometre diameter bowl structures that combine SERS enhancement with light-trapping to enable highly sensitive detection of micrometer-sized microplastics.

2025 Polymers
Article Tier 2

Microextraction based on microplastic followed by SERS for on-site detection of hydrophobic organic contaminants, an indicator of seawater pollution

Researchers used microplastics as a sampling tool combined with surface-enhanced Raman scattering to detect and measure a toxic organic pollutant (fluoranthene) in seawater. This approach could offer a portable, cost-effective way to monitor water contamination in the field.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Plasmonic-based Raman sensor for ultra-sensitive detection of pharmaceutical waste

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research; it describes a plasmonic Raman sensor for detecting pharmaceutical contaminants in water and food — the sensor uses surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) but is focused on pharmaceutical waste, not plastic particles.

2024 Environmental Science Nano 2 citations
Article Tier 2

SERS-Based Local Field Enhancement in Biosensing Applications

This review examined recent advances in surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates used for detecting biological molecules and environmental contaminants, including microplastics. Researchers discussed how new materials ranging from semiconductors to flexible three-dimensional structures have expanded the technology's capabilities for sensitive, non-destructive molecular identification. The study suggests that more cost-effective and efficient SERS substrates could improve environmental monitoring and food safety testing applications.

2024 Molecules 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Trapping tiny pollutants: SERS-driven strategies for microplastics and nanoplastics detection

This review explores how surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is being developed as a highly sensitive tool for detecting and identifying micro- and nanoplastics in environmental and biological samples. Researchers highlight recent advances in sensor design, the integration of machine learning for improved accuracy, and the technique's potential for real-world monitoring. The study also identifies key challenges, including signal variability and the lack of standardized methods, that need to be resolved for broader adoption.

2025 iScience 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Superhydrophobic Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) Substrates for Sensitive Detection of Trace Nanoplastics in Water

Researchers developed a new method to detect extremely small nanoplastics in water by combining a water-repelling surface that concentrates particles with a technique called SERS that amplifies their chemical signal. The method can identify common nanoplastics like polystyrene and PMMA at very low concentrations, which is an important step toward monitoring these tiny pollutants that are difficult to detect with current tools.

2025 Analytical Chemistry 30 citations
Article Tier 2

High-sensitivity SERS sensor leveraging three-dimensional Ti3C2Tx/TiO2/W18O49 semiconductor heterostructures for reliable detection of trace micro/nanoplastics in environmental matrices

Researchers developed a new sensor that can detect trace amounts of micro- and nanoplastics in environmental samples like rainwater, soil, and wastewater. The sensor uses a layered semiconductor structure to enhance Raman spectroscopy signals, achieving high sensitivity and the ability to identify multiple plastic types at once. This technology could make it faster and more practical to monitor plastic pollution in real-world settings.

2024 Talanta 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative and rapid detection of nanoplastics labeled by luminescent metal phenolic networks using surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Researchers developed a detection method using luminescent metal-phenolic network tags combined with portable surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) that can identify and quantify multiple nanoplastic types (polystyrene, PMMA, PLA) as small as 50 nm at concentrations as low as 0.1 µg/mL in field-deployable settings.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Strategies and Challenges of Identifying Nanoplastics in Environment by Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Researchers reviewed the use of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as a tool for detecting nanoplastics, which are plastic particles smaller than one micrometer. The study found that SERS offers high sensitivity for identifying individual nanoparticles, but significant challenges remain in applying this technique to complex environmental samples. The review outlines strategies for improving SERS-based nanoplastic detection to better assess environmental and health risks.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 170 citations
Article Tier 2

Electrochemical and Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering Coupling for Dual‐Mode Sensing of Nanoplastics

This study developed a dual-mode detection system combining electrochemical analysis with surface-enhanced Raman scattering to identify nanoplastics in environmental samples, addressing the challenge of detecting NPs by material, size, and surface chemistry simultaneously.

2025 Analysis & Sensing
Article Tier 2

Synergistically Enhanced Ta2O5/AgNPs SERS Substrate Coupled with Deep Learning for Ultra-Sensitive Microplastic Detection

Researchers engineered a high-performance Ta2O5/AgNPs composite surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and coupled it with deep learning algorithms for ultra-sensitive detection of microplastics. Through morphology modulation and band-gap engineering of the semiconductor support, the system achieved significantly enhanced Raman signal amplification, enabling identification of microplastics at very low concentrations.

2025 Materials
Article Tier 2

Metal-free AAO membranes function as both filters and Raman enhancers for the analysis of nanoplastics

Scientists developed a simple, metal-free aluminum oxide membrane that works as both a filter and a signal-enhancing surface for detecting nanoplastics using Raman spectroscopy. The approach successfully identified plastic particles as small as 200 nanometers across six common polymer types, without complex sample preparation. This dual-function tool could offer a cost-effective and practical way to analyze nanoplastic contamination in environmental samples.

2024 Water Research 5 citations