Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) serve as critical biomarkers in exhaled breath for early-stage cancer patients, and their rapid, trace-level detection holds marked implications for cancer screening. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology demonstrates strong potential for trace VOC gas detection due to its ultra-high sensitivity and immunity to water interference. However, while surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-free semiconductor substrates offer superior spectral stability and selectivity, their sensitivity toward VOC detection remains suboptimal. This study introduces a novel semiconductor-based SERS substrate composed of copper single atoms anchored on UiO-66 (Cu1/UiO-66), achieving a record-low detection limit of 10 parts per billion for VOC gases with a rapid 2-min response time, thereby elevating the gas-sensing performance of SPR-free substrates to unprecedented levels. The exceptional SERS activity originates from the highly delocalized electron properties of single-atomic copper, which effectively facilitates single-atom charge transfer processes. Concurrently, the incorporation of copper single atoms modulates the band structure of UiO-66, substantially enhancing the coupling resonance between the substrate and target molecules. In simulated breath tests mimicking lung cancer patients’ exhalations, Cu1/UiO-66 exhibits remarkable VOC recognition capability and robust anti-interference performance. This work pioneers a new paradigm for ultra-sensitive, rapid detection of trace VOCs in exhaled breath, holding substantial promise for early cancer diagnostics and clinical translation.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |