This review deals with surface-enhancved Raman scattering (SERS) employing Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films, which serve as model systems for developing theoretical and experimental studies to elucidate the SERS effect. In addition, LB films have be used as integral parts of molecular architectures for SERS-active substrates. On the other hand, SERS and surface-enhaced resonant Raman scattering (SERRS) have allowed various properties of LB films to be investigated, especially those associated with molecular-level interactions. In the paper, emphasis is placed on single molecule detection (SMD), where the target molecule is diluted on an LB matrix of spectral silent material (low Raman cross section). The perspectives and challenges for combining SERS and LB films are also discussed.

In this work we take advantage of the polyelectrolyte character of some Brazilian native gums to fabricate electrically conductive, nanostructured films. The gums Sterculia urens, (caraia), Sterculia striata (chicha) or Anadenanthera macrocarpa Benth were assembled in conjunction with poly(o-methoxyaniline) (POMA) in the form of layered nanostructured films using the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. All the LbL films displayed a well-defined electroactivity, as confirmed via cyclic voltammetry. In comparison to POMA LbL films fabricated with conventional polyelectrolytes (viz. poly(vinyl sulfonic acid)-PVS), the presence of the gums in the LbL films increased remarkably the electrochemical stability of the films.

Neste trabalho, foi investigada a interação entre substâncias húmicas e um polímero condutor (poli-(o-etoxianilina) - POEA), ambos em solução e filmes automontados. Os resultados mostram que as substâncias húmicas dopam a POEA por protonação, isto é evidenciado por espectroscopia UV-Vis e Raman. Os estudos de microscopia de força atômica (AFM) em filmes automontados mostram haver um aumento na rugosidade do filme polimérico quando este é exposto a substâncias húmicas (ácidos húmico e fúlvico), o que evidencia a existência de interação entre a POEA e as substâncias húmicas. Esta mudança na morfologia é reversível com a lavagem dos filmes com água, em concordância com as medidas elétricas, possibilitando a aplicação em sensores. Um sistema sensor formado por um arranjo de diferentes unidades sensoriais foi capaz de distinguir substâncias húmicas em solução aquosa, como é mostrado pela análise multivariada (análise da componente principal), o que é importante para controle da qualidade de água e solo.

The interaction between humic substances and poly(o-ethoxyaniline) (POEA), a conducting polymer, was investigated for both solution and self-assembled films. The results have shown that the humic substances induce a doping of POEA by protonation, as indicated by UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopies. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies on the self-assembled films have shown that the average roughness of the polymer film has increased after exposing it to humic substances (fulvic and humic acids), consistent with the interaction between POEA and humic substances. However, this change in morphology is reversible by washing the films with water in agreement with the electrical data allowing using this system in sensor applications. Here, the sensor formed by an array of different sensing units was able to detect and distinguish humic substances in aqueous solution, as shown by multivariate analysis (principal component analysis). The motivation to detect humic substance comes due to its importance in terms of quality control of water or soil.