Preparation of a GO@PVP@Ag SERS Substrate and Its Application in the Detection of Phenanthylene in Aqueous Solution

This study focuses on the preparation of a highly active surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate, where Ag nanoparticles synthesized by the Lee–Meisel method are loaded onto the surface of GO@PVP nanoparticles through classical electrostatic attraction. The substrate was characterized by SEM and XPS analysis. The SERS-active substrate was utilized for the detection of phenanthrene in aqueous solutions, achieving a detection limit of 10−8 g/L (5.6 × 10−11 mol/L). In comparison to conventional Raman spectroscopy, this method exhibits a significant reduction in the detection limit and holds promise for trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) monitoring in environmental samples.