Date of Award
3-19-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Chemistry
First Advisor
Jun-Hyun Kim
Abstract
Due to the worsening national drug epidemic and increasing prevalence of exceptionally potent synthetic opioids, there is a need to improve the forensic detection of illicit drugs, including sample analyses conducted on-site. In this thesis, the analysis of several illicit drugs spotted onto plasmonic surfaces was investigated using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with the goal of improving detection limits. Plasmonic surfaces (gold nanoparticle-loaded filter papers) were prepared and characterized prior to their SERS applications. Plasmonic surfaces were then further modified for improved SERS detection of each illicit drug with the treatment of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) forming compounds; in addition to the implementation of paper-spray ionization (PSI). Each of these modifications were optimized both independently and simultaneously for each drug through the screening process of many SAMs, durations of PSI, and SERS scan location on the sample surface. Finally, each combination of drug with optimal SAM and/or PSI optimization was calibrated to assess limits of detection. Limits of detection were found to be in the single-nanograms of drug deposited and improvements were observed in samples modified with SAMs and PSI.
Recommended Citation
Harms, John, "Improving Sers Detection of Illicit Drugs Using a Plasmonic Substrate Modified with Self-Assembled Monolayers" (2021). Theses and Dissertations. 1372.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/1372
DOI
https://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2021.20210719070603176695.72
Page Count
81
Comments
Imported from Harms_ilstu_0092N_11888.pdf