Fiber laser generation of an ag/MoS2/PVP nanoparticle composite SERS sensor for benzene detection in water

One of the most widely used practices to detect chemical contaminants at ultra-low concentrations is Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS), a highly sensitive technique that provides the unmatched sensitivity necessary for environmental and safety applications. In this work, we report the synthesis of a silver (Ag), molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanoparticle composite by fiber laser ablation in water to produce a high-performance SERS sensor by adapting both electromagnetic (EM) and chemical mechanism (CM) in a composite. The CM enhancement originates from MoS 2 NPs charge transfer whereas the EM enhancement associated with localized surface plasmon resonance of Ag NP. Crystal violet (CV) was utilized as a probe molecule for evaluating the performance of the SERS sensor so produced. It was then utilized in the detection of trace amounts of benzene in DI, tape and river water with a maximum enhancement factor (EF) of 3 × 10 7 and a detection limit up to 0.001 nM confirming its high sensitivity, reliability and long-time stability as well as its potential as an ideal monitoring platform for benzene pollution.