Assessment of Silver and Gold Substrates for the Detection of
Amphetamine Sulfate by Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)

     K. Faulds1, W. E. Smith1*, D. Graham1, and R. J. Lacey2

1Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde,
Glasgow, G1 1XL, U.K.
2Police Scientific and Development Branch, Home Office, Sandridge, St.
Albans, Herts, AL4 9HQ, U.K.

Methods of detection of amphetamine sulfate using surface enhanced Raman
scattering (SERS) from colloidal suspensions and vapour deposited films of
both silver and gold are compared. Different aggregating agents are required
to produce effective SERS from silver and gold colloidal suspensions. Gold
colloid and vapour deposited gold films give weaker scattering than the
equivalent silver substrates when high concentrations of drug are analysed
but they also give lower detection limits.
     Positive identification and semi-quantitative estimation of amphetamine
sulfate could be using SERS from suspended gold colloid with appropriate
aggregating agents.