Advanced spectroscopic techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and hyperspectral imaging are critical for detecting nanoplastics below 20 micrometers, enabling both chemical identification and morphological analysis.

Raman spectroscopy provides molecular fingerprints of plastics by analyzing vibrational modes, while SERS amplifies these signals via metallic nanostructures, facilitating detection of nanoplastics at extremely low concentrations. Hyperspectral imaging complements these methods by capturing spatially resolved spectral data, aiding automated classification and tracking of nanoplastic particles in environmental samples. Together, these techniques overcome the resolution and sensitivity limits of conventional methods, allowing precise detection and characterization of nanoplastics in situ.