Purpose/ Relevance: The goal is to use a solution based direct readout surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method as a quantitative analytical tool for detection of ultra-low levels of important explosives.

1
Gold Nanoparticles of Different Shapes as SERS
Substrates for Detection of Ultralow Levels of
Explosives Radha Narayanan, Nicole Cook, Benjamin
Saute, URI

• Purpose/ Relevance The goal is to use a
  solution based direct readout surface enhanced
  Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method as a
  quantitative analytical tool for detection of
  ultra-low levels of important explosives.
• Innovation Gold nanoparticles of different
  shapes in colloidal solution have not been used
  as colloidal SERS substrates for the detection of
  explosives. We are developing a solution based
  direct readout SERS method for detection of
  ultra-low levels of explosives in solution.
• This Year outcome SERS data have been obtained
  for solution based, direct readout SERS based
  detection of ultra-low levels of dicyanodiamide.
  A calibration curve is being plotted to determine
  the limit of detection (LOD) for this explosive.
  We are also exploring the use of the solution
  based direct readout method for detection of
  other explosives such as TNT, methylnitroguanidine
  , and picric acid.
• Long-range impact The solution based direct
  readout SERS method would be an inexpensive and
  sensitive method for detection of ultra-low
  levels of important explosives.
• Next Year We plan to synthesize star-shaped
  gold nanoparticles to harness the effect of the
  lightning rod effect to result in lower limits of
  detection of important explosives obtained using
  the solution based direct readout SERS method.

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Gold Nanoparticles of Different Shapes as SERS
Substrates for Detection of Ultralow Levels of
Explosives Radha Narayanan, Nicole Cook, Benjamin
Saute, URI

• Education Students Present Graduate Current
  Graduate Students Kalyani Gude, Benjamin Saute,
  Megan Gilbert Current Undergraduate Students
  Nicole Cook, Allison Alix, Nikolai Voicechowski,
  and Andrew Collins No students have graduated
  yet.
• Papers/Patents/Presentations Paper Saute, B.
  Narayanan.R, Solution-Based Direct Readout
  Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic (SERS)
  Detection of Ultra-Low Levels of Thiram with
  Dogbone-Shaped Gold Nanoparticles, Analyst,
  2011, 136(3), 527-532. Presentation 240th ACS
  National Meeting, August 22-26, 2010, Poster,
  Colloidal Dogbone Shaped Gold Nanoparticles as
  Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)
  Substrates for Detection of Thiram, Benjamin
  Saute and Radha Narayanan
• Transition to Industry or Collaboration with
  Industry I have had preliminary conversations
  with Dr. Samar Guharay of MITER corporation. In
  the future, we plan to collaborate on a SERS
  project.
• Picture