MICROFLUIDIC CHIP FOR THE IN-SITU SYNTHESUS OF SILVER NANOSTARS WITH PLASMONIC PROPERTIES FOR SERS ANALYSIS.

SERS (surface-amplified Raman scattering) spectroscopy is an analytical method for the analysis of organic compounds that allows the detection limit of conventional Raman spectroscopy to be lowered to parts per billion (ppb). The method is based on the plasmonic effect of metallic nanoparticles (preferably silver) which, when placed in contact with organic molecules, greatly increase their anelastic dispersion. The synthesis methods published to date show that nanoparticles of complex shape (including nanostars) produce a greater plasmonic effect than conventional nanospheres. Considering that small variations during the complex synthesis process can cause substantial variations in the structure of the nanostars (affecting their plasmonic effect), current methods do not ensure a high reproducibility of the results. To solve this problem, this invention presents a microfluidic system that allows to automate the synthesis process of silver nanostars. By avoiding the possible human errors that may occur during the synthesis process, this system increases the reproducibility of SERS analysis, facilitating its application in all fields of study where it is necessary to detect organic compounds in very low concentrations, including the analysis of drugs, explosives and pesticides, among others.