Ultrasensitive Detection of Rhodamine 6G using Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) based SERS Substrates

This study investigates the detection limits of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) on various Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) based Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) substrates, including UiO-66, ZIF-8, and MIL-101. SERS is a powerful analytical technique that combines the high sensitivity of Raman spectroscopy with the enhancement effect provided by SERS substrates, such as MOFs. Several MOF-based SERS substrates were synthesized and characterized, including UiO-66, ZIF-8, and MIL-101. The substrates were prepared by depositing a thin layer of MOF on a suitable substrate, such as silicon or glass. The SERS activity of these substrates was then evaluated using different concentrations of R6G. The results showed that all the MOF-based SERS substrates exhibited excellent detection capabilities for R6G. The detection limit was determined as the lowest concentration of R6G that could be detected with a significant SERS signal-to-noise ratio. UiO-66 and ZIF-8 substrates demonstrated the lowest detection limits, with values in the picomolar range. MIL-101 also exhibited good sensitivity, although slightly higher than UiO-66 and ZIF-8. The enhanced SERS performance of these MOF-based substrates can be attributed to their unique structural properties, such as high surface area, large pore volume, and tunable pore size. The MOF materials provide an ideal environment for the adsorption of R6G molecules, promoting strong electromagnetic interactions and enhancing the Raman signals. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of MOF-based SERS substrates for ultrasensitive detection of R6G. The low detection limits achieved highlight the promising application of MOFs in various fields, including chemical sensing, environmental monitoring, and biomedical diagnostics. Further research is needed to explore the full potential of MOFs as SERS substrates and optimize their performance for specific analytes.