Abstract

Since smSERS (single molecule Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering) was independently reported by S. Nie group and K. Kneipp group in 1997 [1][2], tremendous amount of interest has been shown to this field because Raman spectroscopy can provide molecular fingerprint together with multiplexing capability in bioassay. Regarding to the origin of this smSERS phenomena, so called “SERS hot spot”, Nie group argued sharp edges in nanostructure, such as corners of a silver nanorod or even of a single nanoparticle, can play as a hot spot of smSERS, while Kneipp group argued they could observe smSERS signal only from colloidal aggregation in solution. Later on, Brus group and others showed that SERS hot spots, formed at the junction of two nanoparticles, likely play a major role in smSERS [3][4]. Theoretical calculations also support that SERS electromagnetic enhancement factors can approach up to ~10¹¹ when inter-particle spacing reaches down to a few nanometer or less at the junction between two nanoparticle pair. However, formation of these smSERS-active nanostructures with a nano-gap at the SERS hot-spot junction, mostly dimer or colloidal aggregation of Ag or Au nanoparticles adsorbed with Raman active molecules (e.g., Rhodamine 6G), is a random process driven by salt-induced non-specific aggregation. This fact has been a main hurdle for smSERS toward advanced applications.

© 2013 Japan Society of Applied Physics, Optical Society of America