Laboratory study demonstrates high-sensitivity hydrogen peroxide quantification using Au@DTNB@Ag nanoprobes, indicating potential for trace analysis in complex matrices.
Key Points
To engineer an Au@Ag core-shell surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) nanoprobe with a DTNB reporter for the sensitive, rapid, and specific quantitative detection of hydrogen peroxide.
Synthesized core-shell Au@DTNB@Ag nanoprobes via sodium citrate reduction and seed-growth methods, characterizing them with transmission electron microscopy, zeta potential, and Raman spectroscopy.
Modeled electromagnetic and chemical SERS enhancement mechanisms using finite element simulations and density functional theory calculations.
Developed a quantitative assay relying on H₂O₂-mediated oxidative etching of the silver shell, tracking signal intensity changes at the 1294 cm⁻¹ Raman peak.
Observed a quantitative dose-response relationship across an H₂O₂ concentration range of 0.12 μM to 29.4 μM, with a four-parameter logistic calibration curve fit of R² = 0.99915.
Achieved high detection precision with coefficients of variation under 10% at medium and high concentrations alongside acceptable spike recovery rates for trace analysis.