US 12,140,548 B2
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy membranes and textiles, methods of making, and uses thereof
Aditya Garg, Blacksburg, VA (US); and Wei Zhou, Blacksburg, VA (US)
Assigned to Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed by Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/677,797.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/151,501, filed on Feb. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0299444 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 21/65 (2006.01); G01J 3/44 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/658 (2013.01) [G01J 3/44 (2013.01); G01N 2021/656 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making a membrane or textile comprising a mechanically robust surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate, the method comprising:
a. adhesively bonding an etchable polymer-micropatch array to a substrate, the micropatch array comprising a plurality of shaped etchable polymer micron-scale pillars formed concurrently with the bonding, each of the micron-scale pillars in the plurality of micron-scale pillars comprising a plurality of plasmonic nanoparticles dispersed within the etchable polymer; and
b. etching a portion of the polymer matrix to expose at least a portion of the plasmonic nanoparticles at or near a surface of the micron-scale pillars.