Novel device for rapidly preparing flexible SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering) substrate through electric enrichment

Abstract

The invention discloses a novel device for rapidly preparing a flexible SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering) substrate through electric enrichment, which comprises a device upper-layer cover plate, device upper-layer liquid storage tanks are arranged on the upper surface of the device upper-layer cover plate close to two sides, and a device upper-layer channel is arranged on the upper surface of the device upper-layer cover plate between the two device upper-layer liquid storage tanks. And in-channel auxiliary electrodes are arranged and mounted in the upper-layer channel of the device. The novel device for rapidly preparing the flexible SERS substrate through electric enrichment can be used for rapidly preparing an SERS detection substrate during on-site rapid screening, the substrate is good in reproducibility, high in sensitivity and uniform in hot spot distribution, the prepared SERS substrate can be uniform in distribution and multiple in hot spots, stronger SERS signals can be generated, the detection accuracy is improved, and the application prospect is wide. The invention provides a new way and device for preparing the high-requirement SERS substrate, and the device is short in preparation time consumption, small in size and convenient to carry, and can meet the requirements of on-site screening and detection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of spectral analysis and detection technology, and in particular to a novel device for the rapid preparation of flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment. Background Technology

[0002] Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a vibrational spectroscopy-based technique widely used in highly sensitive, label-free chemical and biological sensing. SERS not only possesses most of the advantages of Raman spectroscopy, providing richer structural information about chemical molecules and enabling real-time, in-situ detection, but also boasts high sensitivity, simple data processing, and high accuracy, making it a powerful tool for trace detection. SERS is a rapid, non-destructive detection technique with advantages such as simple sample preparation, minimal water interference, non-invasiveness, and real-time detection. In recent years, this technology has shown great application potential in areas such as nucleic acid detection, pathogen detection, and precision molecular diagnosis of tumors. In recent years, much research has focused on developing low-cost, high-enhanced SERS substrates that can be mass-produced. The quality of the SERS signal largely depends on the quality of the SERS substrate; however, current SERS substrate preparation techniques still suffer from drawbacks such as complex operation, time consumption, and high cost. Furthermore, the prepared SERS substrates are difficult to preserve, have low reproducibility, and lack specificity, making it difficult to apply SERS technology to fields requiring rapid response, such as on-site screening.

[0003] Flexible substrate materials, besides traditionally used paper-based materials, also include paper and membranes with appropriate flexibility or porous structures. Novel flexible membrane materials with excellent properties have attracted widespread attention in many research fields such as microfluidics and on-site detection. Flexible substrate materials are low in cost, easy to prepare, easy to fold, have a loose and porous structure, and a large specific surface area. They can guide liquid flow without external driving force and also possess certain reactivity. Their flexibility facilitates swabbing sampling during rapid on-site screening and detection. These excellent properties make them an ideal platform for analytical detection and sample pre-enrichment and pretreatment. Currently, most methods for preparing SERS substrates based on flexible material substrates employ immersion, vapor deposition, and electroplating methods. These methods not only involve numerous operational steps and long preparation times, but also often fail to produce SERS substrates with high reproducibility and sensitivity. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a novel device for the rapid preparation of flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment, which can effectively solve the problems in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] A novel device for rapidly preparing flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment includes an upper cover plate. Upper liquid storage tanks are formed on both sides of the upper surface of the upper cover plate. An upper channel is formed between the two upper liquid storage tanks on the upper surface of the upper cover plate. An auxiliary electrode is arranged and installed inside the upper channel. An electrode is fixedly installed at the center of each of the two upper liquid storage tanks. A bottom layer is fixedly installed on the lower surface of the upper cover plate.

[0007] Furthermore, the two upper liquid storage tanks of the device are connected by an upper channel.

[0008] Furthermore, the channel contains multiple auxiliary electrodes, which are evenly distributed in the upper channel of the device, and gaps are provided between the multiple auxiliary electrodes in the channel.

[0009] Furthermore, both the auxiliary electrode in the channel and the electrode in the liquid storage tank are encapsulated in the bottom layer of the device.

[0010] Furthermore, the auxiliary electrode in the channel and the electrode in the liquid storage tank are bonded to the bottom layer of the device by electrode etching.

[0011] Furthermore, the upper liquid storage tank, the upper cover plate, the upper channel, the auxiliary electrode in the channel, the electrode in the liquid storage tank, and the bottom layer of the device are encapsulated by bonding.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0013] This invention provides a novel SERS substrate preparation device by combining SERS technology with flexible materials. This device can be used for the rapid preparation of SERS detection substrates for on-site rapid screening. The substrate exhibits good reproducibility, high sensitivity, and uniform hotspot distribution. Furthermore, the device utilizes electrokinetic stacking technology to enrich and fill the three-dimensional void space of the flexible material with precious metal nanoparticles from a precious metal nanosolution, forming a complex three-dimensional hotspot structure. The resulting SERS substrate has a uniform distribution and numerous hotspots, generating a stronger SERS signal and improving detection accuracy. This provides a new approach and device for preparing high-requirement SERS substrates. In addition, the device is simple to operate, requiring no complex equipment for vapor deposition methods, and has a short preparation time—only 5-10 minutes compared to the 1-2 days preparation time of the immersion method. The device is small and portable, meeting the needs of on-site screening and detection. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a top view of the structure of a novel device for rapidly preparing flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment according to the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a side view of the structure of a novel device for rapidly preparing flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment according to the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the electrode and peripheral control circuit wiring of a novel device for rapid preparation of flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment according to the present invention.

[0017] In the diagram: 1. Upper storage tank of the device; 2. Upper cover plate of the device; 3. Upper channel of the device; 4. Auxiliary electrode in the channel; 5. Electrode in the storage tank; 6. Bottom layer of the device. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0019] Example 1:

[0020] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a novel device for rapidly preparing flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment includes an upper cover plate 2. Upper liquid storage tanks 1 are provided on both sides of the upper surface of the upper cover plate 2. An upper channel 3 is provided on the upper surface of the upper cover plate 2 between the two upper liquid storage tanks 1. An auxiliary electrode 4 is arranged and installed inside the upper channel 3. An electrode 5 is fixedly installed at the center of the two upper liquid storage tanks 1. A bottom layer 6 is fixedly installed on the lower surface of the upper cover plate 2.

[0021] The two upper liquid storage tanks 1 of the device are connected by an upper channel 3. Multiple auxiliary electrodes 4 are provided in the channel and are evenly distributed in the upper channel 3, with gaps between the auxiliary electrodes 4 in the multiple channels. The auxiliary electrodes 4 in the channel and the electrodes 5 in the liquid storage tank are encapsulated in the bottom layer 6 of the device. During preparation, solutions with different conductivity are added to the two liquid storage tanks, and a flexible substrate material is placed in the channel. Noble metal nanoparticles are dropped into the channel. The device is started by the external control circuit, and the electrodynamic stacking of the noble metal nanoparticles begins. SERS detection hot spots are formed in the flexible material through the stacking of the noble metal nanoparticles. The auxiliary electrodes 4 in the channel and the electrodes 5 in the liquid storage tank are bonded to the bottom layer 6 of the device by electrode etching. The upper liquid storage tank 1, the upper cover plate 2, the upper channel 3, the auxiliary electrodes 4 in the channel, the electrodes 5 in the liquid storage tank, and the bottom layer 6 of the device are encapsulated by bonding.

[0022] Example 2:

[0023] It should be noted that this invention is a novel device for the rapid preparation of flexible SERS substrates through electro-enrichment. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 3As shown, the auxiliary electrode 4 in the channel and the electrode 5 in the reservoir are connected to the output interface of the voltage regulator module of the external control circuit. The external control circuit contains a microcontroller (MCU) and a voltage regulator module (micro high-voltage power supply). The MCU controller provides the SERS fabrication kinetic stacked stepped electric field to the auxiliary electrode 4 in the channel and the electrode 5 in the reservoir through the micro high-voltage power supply voltage regulator module. This device can enrich nano-Au or nano-Ag particles on flexible materials through kinetic stacking, ultimately creating a SERS substrate with high reproducibility and high sensitivity. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 1 As shown, the upper storage tank 1 of the device is symmetrically distributed from left to right. When the device is in use, the electrodes 5 in the corresponding storage tanks are connected to positive and negative voltages respectively through an external control circuit and buffer solutions with different conductivity are added respectively. The high conductivity solution is added to the high voltage positive electrode side storage tank. The auxiliary electrodes 4 in the multiple channels distributed in the upper channel 3 of the device can generate a gradient electric field for kinetic stacking by connecting to an external control circuit. Flexible porous material is placed in the upper channel 3 of the device, and a solution of noble metal nanoparticles that can generate SERS effect (e.g., a 2% volume ratio nano Au solution) is added. Finally, through the generated kinetic stacking effect, the noble metal nanoparticles are rapidly enriched in the middle region of the flexible material, forming a SERS effect hot spot enhancement region, thereby achieving the purpose of preparing a highly sensitive flexible SERS substrate.

[0024] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A novel device for rapid preparation of flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment, characterized in that: The device includes an upper cover plate (2), on which upper liquid storage tanks (1) are provided on both sides of the upper surface of the upper cover plate (2). An upper channel (3) is provided on the upper surface of the upper cover plate (2) between the two upper liquid storage tanks (1). An auxiliary electrode (4) is arranged and installed inside the upper channel (3). An electrode (5) is fixedly installed at the center of the two upper liquid storage tanks (1). A bottom layer (6) is fixedly installed on the lower surface of the upper cover plate (2).

2. The novel apparatus for rapid preparation of flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two upper liquid storage tanks (1) of the device are connected by an upper channel (3).

3. The novel apparatus for rapid preparation of flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The number of auxiliary electrodes (4) in the channel is multiple and they are evenly arranged in the upper channel (3) of the device, and there are gaps between the multiple auxiliary electrodes (4) in the channel.

4. The novel apparatus for rapid preparation of flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The auxiliary electrode (4) in the channel and the electrode (5) in the liquid storage tank are both encapsulated in the bottom layer (6) of the device.

5. The novel apparatus for rapid preparation of flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The auxiliary electrode (4) in the channel and the electrode (5) in the liquid storage tank are bonded to the bottom layer (6) of the device by electrode etching.

6. The novel apparatus for rapid preparation of flexible SERS substrates by electro-enrichment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The upper liquid storage tank (1), the upper cover plate (2), the upper channel (3), the auxiliary electrode (4) in the channel, the electrode (5) in the liquid storage tank, and the bottom layer (6) of the device are encapsulated by bonding.

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