High-Performance Fiber Optic SERS Platform Based on Self-assembly AuNPs on Silver Dendrite Nanostructures Using Laser-Assisted Plasmon-Mediated Method for Toxic Pesticide Detection

In this study, we present the fabrication and demonstrate the high performance of a fiber optic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform featuring self-assembled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on silver dendrite nanostructures (AgD nanostructures) using a laser-assisted plasmon-mediated method. The uniform distribution of AuNPs on AgD nanostructures resulted in exceptional Raman intensity enhancement, with analytical enhancement factors estimated at 3.37 × 10⁷ for Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and a consistent SERS signal with an excellent relative standard deviation (RSD) value of 4.8%. Additionally, the stability of this substrate was evaluated over different time intervals, with SERS data for a 1-µM R6G solution collected over 14 days. The substrate’s potential was further explored by detecting two toxic pesticides, Chlorpyrifos and Chlordane, with estimated detection limits of 1.24 ppb and 1.64 ppb, respectively. Consequently, the proposed fiber optic SERS platform shows significant potential for detecting Chlorpyrifos and Chlordane in the environment.