In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were immobilized on the surface of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) membrane
using diethylenetriamine (DETA) as a chemical linker. The molecule of DETA was attached to the surface of PET via an
amide bond following scission of the polyester ester bond on the PET surface. The AgNPs were immobilized on the surface
of diethylenetriamine-modifed PET membrane via a silver-nitrogen covalent bond. The silver-coated, DETA-modifed and
unmodifed PET membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
(XPS), ulltraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the
size of AgNPs also increased with time of immobilization. The percentage of elemental silver also increased with increase
in time of immobilization of AgNPs on the surface of DETA-modifed PET membrane. The AgNP-coated PET membrane
was used as SERS platform to detect acetaminophen in water. The SERS results showed that acetaminophen molecules
could be detected with high Raman scattering intensity arising from adsorption of acetaminophen molecules on the silver
nanoparticles of the SERS platform
