Malays. J. Anal. Sci. Volume 29 Number 3 (2025): 1394

 

Research Article

 

Self-assemble three-dimensional PMMA@Au core-shell film: An ultrasensitive and reproducible SERS substrate

 

Rabiatul Addawiyah Azwa Tahrin1, Marinah Ariffin1, Nur Aida Mohamed Shaul Hamid1, Chan Kiki1, Maisara Abdul Kadir1,3, Sibu C. Padmanabhan2 and Syara Kassim1,3*

 

1Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

2Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (AMBER) Centre, Trinity College Dublin, College Green,

Dublin 2, Ireland

3Advanced Nano Materials Research Group (ANoMa), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: syara.kassim@umt.edu.my

 

Received: 18 October 2024; Revised: 23 May 2025; Accepted: 26 May 2025; Published: 19 June 2025

 

Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful technique for trace molecular detection, but its practical application is often limited by the lack of cost-effective, stable and reproducible SERS substrates. In order to address this issue, metallodielectric photonic crystals (MDPCs) have gained interest across various fields due to their unique optical properties, with applications including optoelectronics, biotechnology, solar cells and SERS. In this study, homogeneous polymer spheres of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were synthesized and incorporated with gold nanoparticles to form a PMMA@Au core–shell structure. Exploiting a bottom-up technique, thin films of PMMA@Au core–shell substrates were fabricated to investigate their performance in SERS applications using 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) as the probe molecule. The findings were validated through UV-Visible spectroscopy, which revealed distinct surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks at 520 nm for the synthesized gold nanoparticles and 522 nm for the PMMA@Au core–shell. The morphology of the fabricated thin films was meticulously examined at each stage of the study, providing valuable insights into the structure’s formation and characteristics. This research highlights the significant potential of PMMA@Au MDPCs as a SERS substrate, particularly in enhancing Raman signals and demonstrating the influence of substrate layering on sensitivity and reproducibility. These findings not only deepen the understanding of MDPCs but also offer promising implications for advancing reliable, low-cost SERS-based molecular detection platforms.

 

Keywords: polymethyl methacrylate, gold nanoparticles, metallodielectric photonic crystals, surface-enhanced Raman scattering

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