Abstract: A large-area, highly-ordered Ag nanodot array was prepared by anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template method. A monolayer of decanethiol was then assembled on the surface of the nanodot array for the rapid detection of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). The Ag nanodots array was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-visible spectroscopy, and rhodamine 6G probe. The results showed that the best Raman enhancement effect of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-active substrate was achieved by 80 min pore broadening, with an enhancement factor of up to 1.6 × 106. Then, a layer of decanethiol molecules was modified on the surface of the substrate. The pre-concentration of BaP could be achieved by the hydrophobic interaction between decanethiol and BaP. Sensitive and reproducible detection of BaP could be realized. The detection limit (LOD) of BaP was 1.0 ng/mL, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of characteristic Raman peak was 9.7%, which met the standard for a highly repeatable SERS substrate. This method has a great potential in the rapid detection of BaP.

Key words: surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, benzo(a)pyrene, Ag nanodot arrays, anodic aluminum oxide