Flexible Au@Ag/PDMS SERS imprinted membrane combined with molecular imprinting technology for selective detection of MC-LR.

The Au@Ag NCs were synthesized by seed-mediated approach and conducted as the SERS substrates. The membrane modified with metal array structure was obtained by the procedure of three-phase self-assembly. The Au@Ag NCs on membrane with tight structure could present more "hot spots", promoting more sensitive SERS property. The AAP-MIMs was synthesized by the technique of two-step precipitation polymerization and could be applied into the selective detection of MC-LR. [Display omitted] • Core-shell structured bimetallic nano-cube can promote the SERS sensitivity. • PDMS membrane synthesized as the support materials by three-phase boundary can form the array structure. • The molecular imprinted polymers coated on the surface of PDMS membranes can promote the selective property. In this study, a core–shell structured bimetallic nano-cube, Au@Ag NCs, was prepared by seed-mediated growth procedure. The array structure of Au@Ag NCs was achieved at the interface through the autonomous assembly technique at the three-phase boundary. Employing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a flexible carrier, the array structure was effortlessly transferred to the PDMS membrane, bypassing the need for rigid substrates through a simple "pasting" method. This yielded a highly flexible and transparent SERS substrate with an array structure (Au@Ag NCs/PDMS membrane, AAP). In order to promote the selective detection property to the practical samples, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were coated on the surface of membrane to prepare the imprinted membrane (Au@Ag NCs/PDMS-MIMs, AAP-MIMs). It was demonstrated from the results that the AAP-MIMs exhibited high SERS sensitivity, stability, and uniformity. Furthermore, the flexible substrate possessed commendable mechanical strength, and facilitated the detection of analytes on irregular surfaces. In summary, this substrate held promising potential for practical on-site detection and analysis of specific target substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]