In this report, microgel particles, comprised of 2-vinyl pyridine (P2VP) and styrene, are explored as pH-responsive scaffolds to assemble metallic nanoparticles (NPs) for ultrasensitive detection strategies.  Microgel particles serve as size-tunable scaffolds to assemble metal (silver or gold) NPs for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).  The high sensitivity of SERS arises from the enormous enhancement of the Raman scattering cross sections of molecules adsorbed to roughened metal surfaces.  Using sterically stabilized latex of random copolymers of polystyrene and P2VP, this polymer is capable of transitioning to a microgel state through acid-base titration. This effect can manipulate the interparticle spacing between adsorbed metal NPs in order to optimize SERS enhancement.  These microgel-NP composites are characterized and their pH-responsive behavior is demonstrated to be reversible at the single-particle level.

Microgel nanostructures for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

2019 Fall National Meeting

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