Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor allows for fingerprinting and label-free molecular detection with a high sensitivity, but the simple fabrication of SERS active substrates with a well-control over the SERS performance, e.g. an ultra-high sensitivity, superior reproducibility and long-term stability remains a great challenge. Here, we introduce an easy strategy for synthesizing polydopamine-Ag microbowl/nanoparticle array (PDA-Ag MNA) substrates with a tunable superhydrophobic surface, applicable for ultra-highly sensitive SERS detection. First, the periodically dented PDA films are prepared by polymerizing dopamine onto 2D polystyrene colloidal crystals formed at the liquid/air interface, and followed with an in-situ reduction of Ag ions to Ag nanoparticles after removing polystyrene. The surface morphology, i.e. microbowl/nanoparticle structure, is well-controlled, therefore, allowing that the SERS activity of the substrate is under control. Inspired by the superhydrophobic hierarchical surface of the rose petals, this analogous MNA surface is subsequently endowed to be superhydrophobic. This way, the SERS detection of ultra-dilute solute (10⁻¹⁴ M) can be achieved by concentrating analytes within a localized region. Moreover, this substrate also shows a superior reproducibility in result and durability in use. This strategy exhibits a realistic paradigm for further improving the sensitivity of the SERS technique.

表面增强拉曼散射（SERS）传感器可以实现高灵敏度的指纹识别和无标记分子检测，但是可以简单地制造SERS活性基质，并且可以很好地控制SERS性能，例如超高灵敏度，出众的重现性长期稳定仍然是一个巨大的挑战。在这里，我们介绍一种合成具有可调超疏水表面的聚多巴胺-Ag微碗/纳米颗粒阵列（PDA-Ag MNA）底物的简便策略，适用于超高灵敏度的SERS检测。首先，通过将多巴胺聚合到在液/气界面处形成的2D聚苯乙烯胶体晶体上，然后再进行原位沉积，来制备周期性凹陷的PDA膜去除聚苯乙烯后，将银离子还原为银纳米颗粒。表面形态，即微碗/纳米颗粒结构，得到了很好的控制，因此，可以控制底物的SERS活性。受到玫瑰花瓣的超疏水分层表面的启发，该类似的MNA表面随后被赋予超疏水性。这样， 可以通过在局部区域内浓缩分析物来实现SERS检测超稀溶质（10 ^-14 M）。此外，该基材还显示出优异的结果再现性和使用耐久性。该策略展示了一种可以进一步提高SERS技术灵敏度的现实范例。