Sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of atrazine based on aggregation of silver nanoparticles modified carbon dots

The development of precise detection methods with simply operation for pesticides in various environmental samples is a particular challenge. Here a highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) approach for the selective detection of trace atrazine was proposed with R6G as a Raman reporter, which was adsorbed on silver nanoparticles modified carbon dots. The latter were prepared by the reduction of Ag+ by carbon dots. In the presence of atrazine, the aggregation of the modified carbon dots due to the interaction between silver nanoparticles and atrazine led to great enhancement of the SERS signal of R6G. Under optimal assay conditions, the limit of quantification was estimated to be 10 nM, which matched with the standard for drinking water quality of China and WHO defined limit. A good linear response to atrazine was found in the concentration range of 10–1000 nM with the relative standard deviations between 1.8% and 5.6%. The determination of atrazine in real water samples was also carried out to confirm the practicability of the proposed method, which showed the recoveries from 95% to 117.5%. The target induced aggregation for enhancing the signal offered great potential for sensitive on-site detection of atrazine in environments. [Display omitted] •Silver nanoparticles modified carbon dots was designed as the substrate of Raman reporter R6G.•The SERS substrate was prepared by the reduction of Ag+ by carbon dots.•The target induced aggregation of the modified carbon dots leads to great enhancement of SERS signal of R6G.•A SERS method is proposed for atrazine detection with a concentration range of 10–1000 nM.•The determination of atrazine in real water samples is carried out to confirm the practicability.