Online Aerosol pH Detection Using 3D-Printed Microfluidic Devices with a Novel Magnetic SERS Sensor.

Abstract

Accurate measurement of aerosol pH is crucial for understanding atmospheric processes and mitigating haze pollution. However, online detection of aerosol pH is challenging due to the complex composition of single-particle matter and trace components. This study develops a sensitive and selective sensor for the online detection of aerosol pH using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). A novel Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@Au-p-aminothiophenol (FA-pATP) sensor was fabricated using a layer-by-layer self-assembly method, achieving enhanced uniformity and increased density of SERS-active hotspots. Magnetic aggregation was employed to further amplify the Raman signal. This sensor was integrated into a 3D-printed microfluidic device to facilitate online monitoring of aerosol pH. The FA-pATP sensor exhibited a significant increase in peak intensity ratio with rising pH, demonstrating high sensitivity and responsiveness due to structural changes in the -NH₂ groups of pATP under different pH conditions. The sensor demonstrated a linear pH response ranging from 5 to 11. The 3D-printed microfluidic device, coupled with the FA-pATP sensor, demonstrated notable performance in various environmental media, indicating strong anti-interference capabilities. The proposed sensor shows great promise for real-time online monitoring of aerosol pH, with broad applications in environmental monitoring.