Study of the SERS performance of Ag-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles and used for the detection of benzimidazole

Abstract Compared with single-metal materials, bimetallic materials exhibit superior oxidation resistance and stability. The Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) performance can be effectively modulated by adjusting the concentration of the precursors. Herein, Fe 3 O 4 @EDTA@Ag-Cu NPs were successfully synthesized, the SERS performance of the substrate was significantly enhanced by modulating the concentration of the silver and copper precursors. The results indicated that the SERS sample prepared by mixing the dispersion of Fe 3 O 4 @EDTA@Ag-Cu NPs with Rhodamine 6G(R6G) solution at a 1:2 volume ratio, achieved a detection concentration as low as (1.0 ± 0.2) × 10 −10 M for R6G. Furthermore, the substrate demonstrated high sensitivity, uniformity, temporal stability, reproducibility, and the capability for the rapid detection of benzimidazole in strongly alkaline conditions.