Flexible, scalable and simple-fabricated silver nanorod-decorated bacterial nanocellulose SERS substrates cooperated with portable Raman spectrometer for on-site detection of pesticide residues.

[Display omitted] • A highly sensitive, flexible and scalable 3D AgNRs@BNC SERS sensor is developed by a simple vacuum-assisted filtration. • The flexible 3D AgNRs@BNC SERS sensor is used to detect trace 4-ATP with a detection sensitivity of 1.0 × 10-12 M. • A rapid, direct and on-site identification of thiram residues on the uneven food surface was realized by AgNRs@BNC SERS sensor cooperated with portable Raman spectrometer. Owing to good flexibility, prominent mechanical properties, three-dimensional (3D) nanofibrous structure and low background interference, sustainable bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a highly attractive matrix material for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor. Herein, a highly sensitive, flexible and scalable silver nanorod-decorated BNC (AgNRs@BNC) SERS sensor is developed by a simple vacuum-assisted filtration. The AgNRs were firmly locked in the 3D nanofibrous network of cellulose nanofibers upon vacuum drying process, resulting in the formation of 3D SERS hotspots with a depth of more than 10 μm on the sensor. With 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) as a target molecule, a lowest distinguishable level of 10-12 M and a high enhancement factor of 1.1 × 109 were realized by the optimal AgNRs1.5@BNC SERS sensor. Moreover, the AgNRs@BNC SERS sensor exhibits high detectable level of 10-9 M for thiram molecules by integrating with a portable Raman spectrometer. Besides, toxic thiram residues on grape surface could be directly on-site identified by the combination of AgNRs@BNC SERS sensors and a portable Raman spectrometer through a feasible press-and-peel method. The flexible AgNRs@BNC SERS sensor cooperated with portable Raman system demonstrates great potential for on-site detection of pesticide residues on irregular food surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]