Issue 1, 2013

Creating, characterizing, and controlling chemistry with SERS hot spots

Abstract

In this perspective we discuss the roles of hot spots in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). After giving background and defining the hot spot, we evaluate a variety of SERS substrates which often contain hot spots. We compare and discuss the differentiating properties of each substrate. We then provide a thorough analysis of the hot spot contribution to the observed SERS signal both in ensemble-averaged and single-molecule conditions. We also enumerate rules for determining the SERS enhancement factor (EF) to clarify the use of this common metric. Finally, we present a forward-looking overview of applications and uses of hot spots for controlling chemistry on the nanoscale. Although not exhaustive, this perspective is a review of some of the most interesting and promising methodologies for creating, controlling, and using hot spots for electromagnetic amplification.

Graphical abstract: Creating, characterizing, and controlling chemistry with SERS hot spots

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
27 Jul 2012
Accepted
11 Sep 2012
First published
17 Sep 2012

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 21-36

Creating, characterizing, and controlling chemistry with SERS hot spots

S. L. Kleinman, R. R. Frontiera, A. Henry, J. A. Dieringer and R. P. Van Duyne, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013, 15, 21 DOI: 10.1039/C2CP42598J

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