Ultrasensitive detection of crystal violet using a molybdenum sulfide–silver nanostructure-based sensing platform: roles of the adsorbing semiconductor in SERS signal enhancement

Abstract

Crystal violet (CV) is an organic dye that is stabilized by the extensive resonance delocalization of electrons over three electron-donating amine groups. This prevents the molecule from being linked to a metal surface, and therefore, reduces the sensitivity of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors for this toxic dye. In this work, we improved the sensing performance of a silver-based SERS sensor for CV detection by modifying the active substrate. Molybdenum sulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets were employed as a scaffold for anchoring electrochemically synthesized silver nanoparticles (e-AgNPs) through a single step of ultrasonication, leading to the formation of MoS₂/Ag nanocomposites. As an excellent adsorbent, MoS₂ promoted the adsorption of CV onto the surface of the substrate, allowing more CV molecules to be able to experience the SERS effect originating from the e-AgNPs. Hence, the SERS signal of CV was significantly enhanced. In addition, the effects of the MoS₂ content of the nanocomposites on their SERS performance were also taken into account. Using MoS₂/Ag with the most optimal MoS₂ content of 10%, the SERS sensor exhibited the best enhancement of the SERS signal of CV with an impressive detection limit of 1.17 × 10⁻¹¹ M in standard water and 10⁻⁹ M in tap water thanks to an enhancement factor of 2.9 × 10⁶, which was 11.2 times higher than that using pure e-AgNPs.