Nanoparticle properties and synthesis effects on surface-enhanced Raman scattering enhancement factor: an introduction

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy has enabled researchers to map the specific chemical makeup of surfaces, solutions, and even cells. However, the inherent insensitivity of the technique makes it difficult to use and statistically complicated. When Raman active molecules are near gold or silver nanoparticles, the Raman intensity is significantly amplified. This phenomenon is referred to as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The extent of SERS enhancement is due to a variety of factors such as nanoparticle size, shape, material, and configuration. The choice of Raman reporters and protective coatings will also influence SERS enhancement. This review provides an introduction to how these factors influence signal enhancement and how to optimize them during synthesis of SERS nanoparticles.

Figure 1

An illustration of an extrinsic SERS nanoparticle for targeting of a specific antigen.

Figure 2

Normalized extinction cross-sectional area for spherical gold nanoparticles of diameters ranging from 20–100 nm. Data was obtained from a Mie theory simulation available online [42].