In situ silver nanoparticles synthesis in agarose film supported on filter paper and its application as highly efficient SERS test stripes.

Highly efficient multifunctional agarose SERS test stripes has been fabricated by a convenient facile approach. SERS stripes were found to be highly sensitive, robust, and capable to alleviate the two major drawbacks of filter paper based SERS substrate i.e. the weak adhesion of plasmonic nanoparticles and the diffusion of analyte into the paper surface. The fabricated stripes have been used successfully for the ultra-trace detection of analytes of forensic interest including a dye, pesticide and explosive.