Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid, assisted by gold and silver nanostructures

Advanced silver and gold nanostructures were fabricated on alumina ceramic by thermal deposition technique. They were applied as active substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy analyses of the neonicotinoid insecticides Nuprid 200 SP and Warrant 700 WG, both containing imidacloprid, in quantities much smaller than usually applied in the agricultural medicine. The efficiency of the fabricated structures was simulated by finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The limit of detection of imidacloprid was estimated to be about ≈0.05 mM. The detection of small amounts or residue of harmful pollutants was forwarded to bearing on the environment and especially on the honey bees' health.