Plasmonic surface-enhanced Raman scattering nano-substrates for detection of anionic environmental contaminants: Current progress and future perspectives

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS) is a powerful technique of vibrational spectroscopy based on the inelastic scattering of incident photons by molecular species. It has unique properties such as ultra-sensitivity, selectivity, non-destructivity, speed, and fingerprinting properties for analytical and sensing applications. This enables SERS to be widely used in real-world sample analysis and basic plasmonic mechanistic studies. However, the desirable properties of SERS are compromised by the high cost and low reproducibility of the signals. The development of multifunctional, stable and reusable nano-engineered SERS substrates is a viable solution to circumvent these drawbacks. Recently, plasmonic SERS active nano-substrates with various morphologies have attracted the attention of researchers due to promising properties such as the formation of dense hot spots, additional stability, tunable and controlled morphology, and surface functionalization. This comprehensive review focused on the current advances in the field of SERS active nanosubstrates suitable for the detection and quantification of anionic environmental pollutants. The common fabrication methods, including the techniques for morphological adjustments and surface modification, substrate categories, and the design of nanotechnologically fabricated plasmonic SERS substrates for anion detection are systematically presented. Here, the need for the design, synthesis, and functionalization of SERS nano-substrates for anions of great environmental importance is explained in detail. In addition, the broad categories of SERS nano-substrates, namely colloid-based SERS substrates and solid-support SERS substrates are discussed. Moreover, a brief discussion of SERS detection of certain anionic pollutants in the environment is presented. Finally, the prospects in the fabrication and commercialization of pilot-scale handheld SERS sensors and the construction of smart nanosubstrates integrated with novel amplifying materials for the detection of anions of environmental and health concern are proposed.

Direct detection of fluoride ions in aquatic samples by surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Given the strong hydration propensity of fluoride ions, it is difficult to detect fluoride, especially inorganic fluoride, in aqueous samples. Resolving the issue of fluoride detection in aqueous samples is a scientific undertaking of great practical significance. Herein, we propose a new method for the sensitive and selective detection of fluoride in aqueous samples without the addition of organic solvents. The method involves surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy using 1,4-diketo-3,6-diphenylpyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole (DPP) compounds and Ag nanoparticles. The method is based on a diketopyrrolopyrrole compound linked to 1-butyl iodide (DPP1), which can sense fluoride sensitively and selectively. When DPP1 was combined with Ag NPs and reacted with tetrabutylammonium fluoride or inorganic fluoride in aqueous samples, an obvious Raman enhancement was obtained at the excitation wavelength of 633nm. This response arises because the introduction of fluoride anions into the system changes the molecular orientation of DPP1 on the Ag NP substrate from horizontal to vertical, inducing a signal enhancement in the Raman spectrum. This system can detect inorganic fluoride at concentrations as low as 1.0μmolL^-1 (0.018ppm), which is far below the public health service recommended levels for drinking water (0.7-1.2ppm). Furthermore, using the proposed method, a linear response for fluoride in the concentration range of 1.0 × 10^-3-1.0 × 10^-6molL^-1 was obtained, which makes fluoride detection possible in practical samples, such as fluoride-containing toothpaste.

Materials design for new superconductors

Since the announcement in 2011 of the Materials Genome Initiative by the Obama administration, much attention has been given to the subject of materials design to accelerate the discovery of new materials that could have technological implications. Although having its biggest impact for more applied materials like batteries, there is increasing interest in applying these ideas to predict new superconductors. This is obviously a challenge, given that superconductivity is a many body phenomenon, with whole classes of known superconductors lacking a quantitative theory. Given this caveat, various efforts to formulate materials design principles for superconductors are reviewed here, with a focus on surveying the periodic table in an attempt to identify cuprate analogues.

Crystal, electronic, and magnetic structures of M2AgF4 (M = Na–Cs) phases as viewed from the DFT+U method

Theoretical analysis of various polymorphic forms of a series of four alkali metal fluoroargentates(ii), M₂AgF₄ (M = Na–Cs), helped to establish clear trends of crystal structures and magnetic properties across the alkali metal series.

Mercury under Pressure acts as a Transition Metal: Calculated from First Principles

The inclusion of Hg among the transition metals is readily debated. Recently, molecular HgF4 was synthesized in a low-temperature noble gas but the potential of Hg to form compounds beyond a +2 oxidation state in a stable solid remains unresolved. We propose high-pressure techniques to prepare unusual oxidation states of Hg-based compounds. Using an advanced structure search algorithm and first-principles electronic structure calculations, we find that under high pressure Hg in Hg-F compounds transfers charge from the d orbitals to the F, thus behaving as a transition metal. Oxidizing Hg to +4 and +3 yielded the thermodynamically stable compounds HgF4 and HgF3. The former consists of HgF4 planar molecules, a typical geometry for d(8) metal centers. HgF3 is metallic and ferromagnetic owing to the d(9) configuration of Hg, with a large gap between its partially occupied and unoccupied bands under high pressure.

The first example of a mixed valence ternary compound of silver with random distribution of Ag(I) and Ag(II) cations

The reaction between colourless AgSbF6 and sky-blue Ag(SbF6)2 (molar ratio 2 : 1) in gaseous HF at 323 K yields green Ag3(SbF6)4, a new mixed-valence ternary fluoride of silver. Unlike in all other Ag(I)/Ag(II) systems known to date, the Ag(+) and Ag(2+) cations are randomly distributed on a single 12b Wyckoff position at the 4̄ axis of the I4̄3d cell. Each silver forms four short (4 × 2.316(7) Å) and four long (4 × 2.764(6) Å) contacts with the neighbouring fluorine atoms. The valence bond sum analysis suggests that such coordination would correspond to a severely overbonded Ag(I) and strongly underbonded Ag(II). Thorough inspection of thermal ellipsoids of the fluorine atoms closest to Ag centres reveals their unusual shape, indicating that silver atoms must in fact have different local coordination spheres; this is not immediately apparent from the crystal structure due to static disorder of fluorine atoms. The Ag K-edge XANES analysis confirmed that the average oxidation state of silver is indeed close to +1⅓. The optical absorption spectra lack features typical of a metal thus pointing out to the semiconducting nature of Ag3(SbF6)4. Ag3(SbF6)4 is magnetically diluted and paramagnetic (μ(eff) = 1.9 μ(B)) down to 20 K with a very weak temperature independent paramagnetism. Below 20 K weak antiferromagnetism is observed (Θ = -4.1 K). Replacement of Ag(I) with potassium gives K(I)2Ag(II)(SbF6)4 which is isostructural to Ag(I)2Ag(II)(SbF6)4. Ag3(SbF6)4 is a genuine mixed-valence Ag(I)/Ag(II) compound, i.e. Robin and Day Class I system (localized valences), despite Ag(I) and Ag(II) adopting the same crystallographic position.

Chemistry of silver(II): a cornucopia of peculiarities†

Silver is the heavier congener of copper in the Periodic Table, but the chemistry of these two elements is very different. While Cu(II) is the most common cationic form of copper, Ag(II) is rare and its compounds exhibit a broad range of peculiar physico-chemical properties. These include, but are not limited to: (i) uncommon oxidizing properties, (ii) unprecedented large mixing of metal and ligand valence orbitals, (iii) strong spin-polarization of neighbouring ligands, (iv) record large magnetic superexchange constants, (v) ease of thermal decomposition of its salts with O-, N- or C-ligands, as well as (vi) robust Jahn-Teller effect which is preserved even at high pressure. These intriguing features of the compounds of Ag(II) will be discussed here together with (vii) a possibility of electromerism (electronic tautomerism) for a certain class of Ag(II) salts.

A highly selective SBA-15 supported fluorescent “turn-on” sensor for the fluoride anion

TSBA (or ASBA) remained stable upon prolonged exposure to UV light (losing ∼0.12% of its fluorescence intensity), and was highly selective towards F⁻ over other common anions (Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, HPO₄²⁻, ACO⁻, and NO₃⁻).

Highlights on contemporary recognition and sensing of fluoride anion in solution and in the solid state

The fluoride anion has recently gained well deserved attention among the scientific community for its importance in many fields of human activities, but also for concerns on its effect on health and the environment. Although surprisingly overlooked in systematic studies in the past, fluoride has nowadays become a topical target in the field of anion recognition. A multitude of scientific reports are published every year where the establishment of efficient and specific interaction with fluoride is sought in polar and aqueous media. Here, the emphasis is directed to a detailed description of the most interesting contemporary studies in the field, with a particular focus given to those published in the last few years.