Review of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) detection of synthetic chemical pesticides

•SERS is becoming a popular rapid analytical technique for pesticides detection.•Progress on sensitivity, reproducibility, selectivity and portability are reviewed.•Applications of SERS for pesticide detection in complex matrices were summarized.•Advantages and limitations of SERS for pesticides detection are addressed.•Future applications of SERS for pesticides detection are discussed. Pesticides are essential in modern agricultural practices. Detection of pesticides is an essential step in regulating and monitoring the levels of pesticides in the environment. Even though GC/LC-MS is often the gold standard method for pesticide detection, recent technological advancements has promoted the creation of alternative techniques, such as Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), that provide added advantages such as ultrasensitive detection, faster turnover, simpler protocols, in situ sampling, on-site capability and reduced cost. In this review, a comprehensive report of recent advances in SERS detection of synthetic chemical pesticides is given. The development and applications of the SERS technique for pesticide detection in both simple and complex matrices are discussed. The main advantages of using SERS for pesticide detection are highlighted, together with its limitations. Lastly, promising future trends and applications of SERS for pesticides detection are also discussed.