Fabrication of Ag-CaCO(3) Nanocomposites for SERS Detection of Forchlorfenuron

In this study, Ag-CaCO(3) nanocomposites were synthesized using silver nitrate as the precursor solution based on calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CaCO(3) NPs). The synthesis involved the reaction of calcium lignosulphonate and sodium bicarbonate. The properties of Ag-CaCO(3) nanocomposites were studied by various technologies, including an ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer, a transmission electron microscope, and a Raman spectrometer. The results showed that Ag-CaCO(3) nanocomposites exhibited a maximum UV absorption peak at 430 nm, the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) activity of Ag-CaCO(3) nanocomposites was evaluated using mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) as the marker molecule, resulting in an enhancement factor of 6.5 × 10(4). Additionally, Ag-CaCO(3) nanocomposites were utilized for the detection of forchlorfenuron. The results demonstrated a linear relationship in the concentration range of 0.01 mg/mL to 2 mg/mL, described by the equation y = 290.02x + 1598.8. The correlation coefficient was calculated to be 0.9772, and the limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be 0.001 mg/mL. These findings highlight the relatively high SERS activity of Ag-CaCO(3) nanocomposites, making them suitable for analyzing pesticide residues and detecting toxic and harmful molecules, thereby contributing to environmental protection.