Progress in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering-Based Volatile Organic Compounds Detection: Materials, Application, and Prospects

The detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) holds significant implications in environmental monitoring and disease diagnosis. Traditional gas detection technologies are constrained by complex operation and high cost, thereby failing to satisfy real-time detection demands. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) provides a noble approach for trace VOCs detection, as it possesses single-molecule sensitivity, rapid response, and the ability to analyze chemical structures without being affected by water molecules. Researchers have successfully achieved precise identification of trace VOCs through the meticulous design of SERS substrates, demonstrating excellent application potential in practical detection. This review comprehensively summarizes the research progress and application of SERS technology in VOCs detection, covering the structural design of SERS substrates and the transformation of actual gas detection methods. Specifically, three core substrate structures include noble metal nanostructures, porous semiconductor composite nanostructures, and noble metal–semiconductor composite porous nanostructures that combine the advantages of both were delved into deeply. Furthermore, it also provides a detailed account of the technological innovations in VOCs detection based on SERS technology, expanding the application scope of SERS technology. Nevertheless, the SERS technology still faces significant challenges in VOC gas detection, including nonspecific adsorption in complex matrices, insufficient long-term substrate stability, the need to simultaneously identify multiple components in a mixed gas, etc. This review summarizes the current challenges in detail and looks forward to future research directions and development prospects.