Work

Understanding the SERS Effects of Single Silver Nanoparticles and Their Dimers, One at a Time

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: This perspective article highlights recent developments in a class of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) experiments that aim to correlate SERS enhancement factors with the physical parameters of metal nanostructures. In a typical study, the SERS substrate is fabricated by depositing colloidal nanoparticles on a silicon wafer to obtain individual particles isolated from each other, or small aggregates such as dimeric units. With the help of registration marks, the same nanoparticle, or dimer of nanoparticles, can be quickly located under a Raman microscope (for SERS spectra) and a scanning electron microscope (for structural characterization). The nanoscale characterization achieved by these studies has resulted in unparalleled investigations into the nature of polarization dependency for SERS, the hot spot nature of single nanoparticles and dimers, and the manipulation of hot spots through shape-controlled synthesis and self-assembly. We discuss the new insights these studies have offered, and the future progress they can deliver to the advancement of SERS.

Source: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

DOI: 10.1021/jz900286a

Authors: Matthew Rycenga, Pedro H. C. Camargo, Weiyang Li, Christine H. Moran, Younan Xia

Institutions: Washington University in St. Louis, Yonsei University

Language: English

Topic: Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications

Subfield: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health

Award: NIH Director's Pioneer Award