Large-area organization of pNIPAM-coated nanostars as SERS platforms for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons sensing in gas phase.

Here, a new surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) platform suitable for gas phase sensing based on the extended organization of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAM)-coated nanostars over large areas is presented. This system yields high and homogeneous SERS intensities, and simultaneously traps organic chemical agents as pollutants from the gas phase. pNIPAM-coated gold nanostars were organized into parallel linear arrays. The optical properties of the fabricated substrates are investigated, and applicability for advanced sensing is demonstrated through the detection in the gas phase of pyrene traces, a well-known polyaromatic hydrocarbon.