Localised surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy: naked nanoparticle sensing

TL;DR

This paper introduces a rapid, scalable method using naked nanoparticle templates for sensitive surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy to detect trace lead compounds in water, enabling quick in situ analysis.

Contribution

A novel simplified surface plasmon resonance technique utilizing laser-annealed naked nanoparticles for highly sensitive lead detection in aqueous solutions.

Findings

Detects lead concentrations as low as 20 ppm.

Monitors lead adsorption with high sensitivity.

Uses a rapid, scalable nanoparticle fabrication process.

Abstract

We present a simplified yet sophisticated variation to localised surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, which makes use of naked or non-functionalised, nanoparticle templates. These nanoparticle templates, produced with a rapid and scalable process, namely laser annealing, were used as a highly sensitive surface sensor to monitor the adsorption of both metallic lead and a lead salt from aqueous solutions, showing a measurable optical response due to a surface abundance of lead as low as 100 ppm from 0.3 ml of Pb2SO4 solutions, with concentrations less than 20 ppm. This proposed method enables the end user to rapidly assess the surface abundance of lead from a simple optical reflectance measurement and could serve as a platform for in situ analysis within water filtration and cleaning systems.