SERS-based simplified analysis of paraquat in poisoning cases: Bypassing complicated pretreatment with antioxidant sensor.

Applying antioxidant coating materials to prepare surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensing substrates can effectively enhance the sensitivity and stability for the analysis of molecules. In this study, we have leveraged SERS to develop an innovative sensor for the swift identification of Paraquat (PQ), enabling on-site detection of this herbicide. The newly devised sensor distinguishes itself through its exceptional oxidation resistance. This resistance is attributed to the physical properties of the nanoparticles, specifically the silver shell coating and loading on the molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂). By the creation of "hot spots" of the composite nanoparticles (Ag@AuBPs on flower-like MoS₂), the kit achieves a remarkably low detection limit as low as 1.0 × 10^-10 M for Paraquat in lake water, soil, and clothing samples, allowing for rapid and direct identification of PQ in complex environments.