Real-Time Underwater Nanoplastic Detection beyond the Diffusion Limit and Low Raman Scattering Cross-Section via Electro-Photonic Tweezers

Eui Sang Yu, Eui Tae Jeong, Seungha Lee, In Soo Kim, Seok Chung, Seungyeon Han, Inhee Choi, Yong Sang Ryu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Emerging as substantial concerns in the ecosystem, submicron plastics have attracted much attention for their considerable hazards. However, their effect and even amount in the environment remain unclear. Establishing a substantive analytic platform is essential to expand the understanding of nanoplastics. However, the issues of diffusion and detection limit that arise from ultradiluted concentration and extremely small scales of nanoplastics leave significant technical hurdles to analyze the nanoplastic pollutants. In this study, we obtain effective Raman signals in real time from underwater nanoplastics with ultralow concentrations via AC electro-osmotic flows and dielectrophoretic tweezing. This enables the field-induced active collection of nanoplastics toward the optical sensing area from remote areas in a rapid manner, integrating conventional technical skills of preconcentration, separation, and identification in a single process. A step further, synergetic combination with plasmonic nanorods, accomplishes the highest on-site detection performance so far.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2114-2123
Number of pages10
JournalACS Nano
Volume17
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 14 Feb 2023

Keywords

  • Raman spectroscopy
  • dielectrophoresis
  • microplastic
  • nanoplastic
  • surface-enhanced Raman scattering

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