Inline characterization in microfluidic reaction systems by SERS

SERS在微流控结构中的应用使反应物质的灵敏检测成为可能。因此，原则上可以在现场监测化学反应。除了对反应物的识别和定量外，SERS传感器还可以精确表征micro-envoíronments（例如，关于pH或温度）。在拟议的项目中，我们将开发SERS，以实现对化学反应的在线监测和控制。为了实现这一目标，我们将生成和开发多功能纳米结构，除了作为SERS底物外，由于其等离子体特性，还可以影响化学反应的过程，从而产生光催化活性和光热效应，可用于非常局部地控制温度。新的方法概念将应用于两种类型的反应，(i)表征已知的等离子体支持反应和（ii）监测抗疟疾/抗肿瘤化合物青蒿琥酯的分解。在微尺度上改变反应混合物的化学成分，并通过SERS随时间监测和成像，只有在微流体系统中才有可能。除了灵敏的检测外，SERS还可以对反应分子进行内联结构表征。除了这种方法上的创新之外，该项目还将对等离子体和纳米结构支持的反应产生新的基本见解。

The application of SERS in microfluidic structures enables the sensitive detection of reacting species. Therefore it is, in principle, possible to monitor chemical reactions in situ. Apart from the identification and quantification of reactants, SERS sensors enable the precise characterization of micro-envoíronments (e.g., regarding pH or temperature). In the proposed project, we will develop SERS in order to attain in-line monitoring and control of chemical reactions. To achieve this goal, we will generate and exploit multifunctional nanostructures that, apart from serving as SERS substrate, can also influence the course of chemical reactions due to their plasmonic properties, resulting in photocatalytic activities and photothermal effects that can be used to control temperature very locally. The new methodological concepts will be applied to two types of reaction, (i) the characterization of a known plasmon-supported reaction and (ii), monitoring the decomposition of artesunate, an anti-malarial / anti-tumoral compound. To vary the chemical composition of reaction mixtures at the microscale and to monitor and image them over time by SERS is only possible in a microfluidic system. Apart from sensitive detection, SERS enables inline structural characterization of the reacting molecules. In addition to this methodlogical innovation, the project will generate new basic insights into plasmon- and nanostructure supported reactions.