Surface-enhanced Raman detection of chemical vapors with the use of personal dosimeters

This article provides an overview of the development and application of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for the detection of vapors of organic chemicals with the use of personal dosimetry. The approach used with this personal dosimeter requires no sample desorption or wet-chemical extraction procedure. The dosimeter employs the SERS technique for direct measurement of the amount of analyte collected on the sample substrate. SERS substrates based on nanoparticles developed in our laboratory have been incorporated in this dosimeter design. Polymers applied to these solid-based SERS substrates can further enhance dosimeter shelf life, ruggedness, and chemical selectivity. Use of this SERS dosimeter for the determination of time-weighted average exposures to chemical vapors has been demonstrated.