Simultaneous SERS detection of copper and cobalt at ultratrace levels.

We report a SERS-based method for the simultaneous and independent determination of two environmental metallic pollutants, Cu(ii) and Co(ii). This was achieved by exploiting the coordination-sensitive Raman bands of a terpyridine (TPY) derivative for detecting transition metal ions. Changes in the vibrational SERS spectra of dithiocarbamate anchored terpyridine (TPY-DTC) were correlated as a function of each metal ion concentration, with limits of detection comparable to those of several conventional analytical methods. Simultaneous detection of ultratrace levels of Co(ii) in the presence of high Cu(ii) concentration was also demonstrated, supporting the potential of this sensing strategy for monitoring potable water supplies.