Sains Malaysiana 54(4)(2025): 1167-1175

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2025-5404-16

 

Peningkatan Isyarat SERS Berdasarkan Pemerangkapan Foton oleh Nanorod ZnO Vertikal Terbantu Suhu untuk aplikasi CKD

(SERS Signal Enhancement Based on Photon Trapping by Thermally Assisted Vertical ZnO Nanorod for CKD Applications)

 

NUR ADLIHA ABDULLAH, MOHD ZULHAKIMI AB. RAZAK, TENGKU HASNAN TENGKU ABDUL AZIZ* & MUHAMAD MAT SALLEH

 

Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

 

Received: 19 August 2024/Accepted: 22 December 2024

 

Abstract

Developing a sensitive and selective Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrate plays a crucial role in biomedical applications. In this study, the semiconductor material, ZnO is used as a SERS substrate to detect creatinine in determining an individual’s kidney health status. ZnO as a SERS substrate was synthesized with temperature variations at 50 °C, 80 °C, 110 °C, and 140 °C to produce vertically aligned ZnO nanorod, optimizing photon trapping and subsequently enhancing the SERS signal. The effect of temperature on ZnO growth was systematically studied using FESEM, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and XRD analysis. The optimum growth temperature at 80 °C produced uniform vertically aligned ZnO nanorods with an average crystallite size of 29.48 nm. These vertical ZnO structures possess a large active surface area, enabling optimal photon trapping. The structure demonstrated a 29% enhancement in the SERS signal when tested for creatinine detection, with an enhancement factor (EF) of 3.09×10¹. This study proves the performance of vertically aligned ZnO nanorods in photon trapping to enhance SERS signals for biomedical applications.

Keywords: Creatinine; growth temperature; photon trapping; SERS mechanism; vertical ZnO nanorods

 

Abstrak

Pembangunan substrat Spektroskopi Serakan Raman Permukaan Diperkuat (SERS) yang sensitif dan bersifat selektif dapat memainkan peranan penting dalam aplikasi bidang bioperubatan. Dalam kajian ini, bahan semikonduktor ZnO digunakan sebagai substrat SERS untuk mengesan kepekatan kreatinin bagi menentukan tahap kesihatan ginjal individu. Bahan semikonduktor ZnO sebagai substrat SERS disintesis dengan variasi suhu pada 50 °C, 80 °C, 110 °C dan 140 °C bagi menghasilkan ZnO berstruktur nanorod vertikal untuk mengoptimumkan pemerangkapan foton dan seterusnya meningkatkan isyarat SERS. Kesan suhu terhadap pertumbuhan ZnO telah dikaji dengan terperinci menggunakan alatan FESEM, spektroskopi UV-Vis dan XRD. Suhu pertumbuhan optimum pada 80 °C berjaya menghasilkan nanorod ZnO vertikal yang sekata dengan purata saiz hablurnya adalah 29.48 nm. Struktur ZnO vertikal ini mempunyai luas permukaan aktif yang besar, membolehkan pemerangkapan foton secara optimum berlaku. Struktur ini telah menunjukkan peningkatan isyarat SERS sebanyak 29% setelah diuji dalam pengesanan kreatinin dengan EF 3.09×10¹. Kajian ini membuktikan prestasi penggunaan nanorod ZnO vertikal dalam pemerangkapan foton bagi meningkatkan isyarat SERS untuk bidang bioperubatan.

Kata kunci: Kreatinin; mekanisme SERS; nanorod ZnO vertikal; pemerangkapan foton; suhu pertumbuhan

 

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*Corresponding author; email: hasnanaziz@ukm.edu.my