High-sensitive SERS detection of thiram with silver nanodendrites substrate

Tran Cao Dao, Truc Quynh Ngan Luong, Tuan Anh Cao and Ngoc Minh Kieu

Abstract

Thiram is a fungicide belonging to the dithiocarbamate family of pesticides that is widely used for fruits, vegetables and mature crops to control fungal diseases. The residue of thiram in food could pose a threat to human health. At present the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is emerging as an ultrasensitive method for detection of thiram traces. In this report we show that by using home-made arrays of silver nanodendrites grown on silicon (AgNDs@Si) as SERS substrates, we can detect thiram to very low concentrations, with the limit of detection (LOD) of 1.2 ppb