Vapor phase SERS sensor based on mesoporous silica decorated with silver nanoparticles

For the first time, nanocomposite colloidosomes of mesoporous silica microspheres decorated with silver nanoparticles have been applied as a highly sensitive vapor phase optical sensors utilizing a semiquantitative analysis of surface-enhanced Raman spectra (SERS). The material was prepared using soft chemistry approaches and benefits from the intrinsic properties of both components: the mesoporous structure of the silica microspheres allows for capillary condensation of target analytes while the silver nanoparticles favor the great enhancement of Raman fingerprints of thus trapped and preconcentrated analytes. This approach seems to be highly promising for the further development of express gas phase sensors for heterocyclic or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants.