TY - JOUR
T1 - Achieving very low levels of detection
T2 - an improved surface-enhanced raman scattering experiment for the physical chemistry teaching laboratory
AU - McMillan, Brian G.
N1 - This document is the unedited Author’s version of a Submitted Work that was subsequently accepted for publication in Journal of Chemical Education, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review. To access the final edited and published work see http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00312
PY - 2016/8/5
Y1 - 2016/8/5
N2 - This experiment was designed and successfully introduced to complement the nanochemistry taught to undergraduate students in a useful and interesting way. Colloidal Ag nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple, room-temperature method, and the resulting suspension was then used to study the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of methylene blue. The colloid was also characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, and these results were used to help explain some of the observed SERS features. The students looked at the effects of concentration and acquisition time on the measured SERS spectra, and the final part of the experiment was based around using their newly acquired knowledge to investigate the lowest concentration of methylene blue that could be detected. Concentrations of 5 × 10-10 M were routinely achieved. The combination of UV–visible spectroscopy, SERS, and nanochemistry made for an interesting and thought-provoking laboratory experience.
AB - This experiment was designed and successfully introduced to complement the nanochemistry taught to undergraduate students in a useful and interesting way. Colloidal Ag nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple, room-temperature method, and the resulting suspension was then used to study the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of methylene blue. The colloid was also characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, and these results were used to help explain some of the observed SERS features. The students looked at the effects of concentration and acquisition time on the measured SERS spectra, and the final part of the experiment was based around using their newly acquired knowledge to investigate the lowest concentration of methylene blue that could be detected. Concentrations of 5 × 10-10 M were routinely achieved. The combination of UV–visible spectroscopy, SERS, and nanochemistry made for an interesting and thought-provoking laboratory experience.
KW - analytical Chemistry
KW - laboratory Instruction
KW - raman spectroscopy
KW - physical chemistry
KW - problem solving/decision making
KW - nanotechnology
KW - colloids
KW - hands-on learning/manipulatives
KW - UV-vis spectroscopy
KW - upper-division undergraduate
UR - http://pubs.acs.org/journal/jceda8
U2 - 10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00312
DO - 10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00312
M3 - Article
JO - Journal of Chemical Education
JF - Journal of Chemical Education
SN - 0021-9584
ER -