Au Ordered Array Substrate for Rapid Detection and Precise Identification of Etomidate in E-Liquid Through Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Etomidate (ET), a medical anesthetic, is increasingly being incorporated into e-liquids for consumption and abuse as a new psychoactive substance (NPS), leading to significant social issues. In this work, large-area Au micro- and nano-structured ordered arrays were engineered as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates for fast detection and precise identification of ET and its metabolites. This ordered array, characterized by abundant electromagnetic enhancement hotspots and structural uniformity, imparts unique properties to the SERS substrate, including ultra-sensitivity, spectral signal reproducibility, and precise quantitative capabilities. Furthermore, it effectively mitigates interference from the complex matrix of e-liquids, facilitating the rapid detection of trace amounts of ET molecules. This SERS rapid detection technology can act as a preliminary screening method for gold-standard spectroscopic analysis, facilitating the on-site rapid screening of suspicious samples and thereby enabling efficient detection and precise verification.