PreprintArticleVersion 1Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
On the Measurements of Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Spectrum: Effective Enhancement Factor, Optical Configuration, Spectral Distortion, and Baseline Variation
Zhao, Y. On the Measurements of the Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Spectrum: Effective Enhancement Factor, Optical Configuration, Spectral Distortion, and Baseline Variation. Nanomaterials2023, 13, 2998.
Zhao, Y. On the Measurements of the Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Spectrum: Effective Enhancement Factor, Optical Configuration, Spectral Distortion, and Baseline Variation. Nanomaterials 2023, 13, 2998.
Zhao, Y. On the Measurements of the Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Spectrum: Effective Enhancement Factor, Optical Configuration, Spectral Distortion, and Baseline Variation. Nanomaterials2023, 13, 2998.
Zhao, Y. On the Measurements of the Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Spectrum: Effective Enhancement Factor, Optical Configuration, Spectral Distortion, and Baseline Variation. Nanomaterials 2023, 13, 2998.
Abstract
In this paper, I present a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements in both solution and thin film setups, focusing on electromagnetic enhancement principles. Two prevalent types of SERS substrates found in the literature are investigated: plasmonic colloidal particles, including spherical and spheroid nanoparticles, nanoparticle diameters, and thin-film-based SERS substrates like ultra-thin substrates, bundled nanorods, plasmonic, and porous thin films. The investigation explores the impact of analyte adsorption, orientation, and the polarization of the excitation laser on effective SERS enhancement factors. Notably, it considers the impact of analyte size on the SERS spectrum, by examining scenarios where the analyte is significantly smaller or larger than the hot-spot dimensions. The analysis also incorporates optical attenuations arising from the optical properties of the analyte and the SERS substrates. The findings provide possible explanations for many observations made in SERS measurements, such as variations in relative peak intensities during SERS assessments, reductions in SERS intensity at high analyte concentrations, and the occurrence of significant baseline fluctuations. The study offers valuable guidance for optimizing SERS substrate design, enhancing SERS measurements, and improving the quantification of SERS detection.
Keywords
surface-enhanced Raman scattering; enhancement factor; optical attenuation; spectral distortion; baseline; effective medium theory
Subject
Physical Sciences, Optics and Photonics
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
