Gold nanoparticle nanofibres as SERS substrate for detection of methylene blue and a chemical warfare simulant (methyl salicylate)

Flexible polymer (polyvinyl alcohol, PVA) nanofibres achieved with electrospinning and loaded with picosecond laser-ablated gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were utilized as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. The fabricated polymer nanofibres and Au NPs were characterized by UV–Visible absorption, field emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The PVA–Au NPs SERS substrates were used to detect the dye methylene blue (MB 5 µM) and a chemical warfare agent simulant (methyl salicylate) using a portable Raman spectrometer. The flexible PVA–Au NPs nanofibre exhibited a good sensitivity with enhancement factors of >104 and a high reproducibility (RSD ~10%). These flexible substrates could be extended for SERS studies of various explosive and other hazardous molecules.