Enhanced phase transfer of Ag-nanospheres using amine-containing amphiphiles for sensitive chemical detection in nonaqueous environments

Effective phase transfer of Ag-nanospheres (AgNSs) was achieved through molecular interactions, rendering them interfacially compatible with various organic chemicals. This transfer was confirmed by distinct color changes and scanning electron microscope images, and the transferred AgNSs were employed as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), enabling the sensitive detection of rhodamine 6G molecules dispersed in nonaqueous solutions. Notably, this detection capability extended to concentrations as low as 1 × 10−14 M. These findings underscore the potential of phase transferred AgNSs as versatile SERS substrates for sensitive chemical sensing in nonaqueous environments.