Nanostructured materials for applications in surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Abstract

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectroscopy has become one of the most widely pursued spectroscopic tools, as a powerful and extremely sensitive analytical technique with applications in chemical production, biochemistry, and environmental monitoring, owing to its production of unique spectroscopic fingerprints, high sensitivity, and non-destructive data acquisition. The key obstacle for the application of SERS-based sensors is the lack of robust and simple fabrication strategies for renewable SERS substrates with huge and stable Raman enhancement. The rational design of SERS sensors with defined physical and chemical properties is vital for successful applications in many analytical fields. This highlight will summarize current advances in the design and the employment of nanostructured materials in SERS substrates, especially from the dimensional point of view. We will then talk about synthesis methods and the novel properties of these nanostructured materials with their potential applications in SERS.