A Novel SERS Substrate Based on Discarded Oyster Shells for Rapid Detection of Organophosphorus Pesticide

Abstract

Over the past few years, the concern for green chemistry and sustainable development has risen dramatically. Researchers make an effort to find solutions to difficult challenges using green chemical processes. In this study, we use oyster shells as a green chemical source to prepare calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO-NPs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed the CaO-NPs morphology, which was spherical in shape, 40 ± 5 nm in diameter, with uniform dispersion. We further prepared silver/polydopamine/calcium-oxide (Ag/PDA/CaO) nanocomposites as the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates and evaluated their enhancement effect using the methyl parathion pesticide. The effective SERS detection limit of this method is 0.9 nM methyl parathion, which is much lower than the safety limits set by the Collaborative International Pesticides Analytical Council for insecticide in fruits. This novel green material is an excellent SERS substrate for future applications and meets the goal of green chemistry and sustainable development.