Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been observed at solid/solution, solid/gas, solid/vacuum, and solid/solid interfaces, and it is possibly the most sensitive surface high-resolution vibrational spectrosopic technique available as an analytical probe. The great interest in SERS is evidenced by the virtual explosion in the number of publications dealing with this technique since 1977 from the physics, chemistry, and materials science research communities. One reason for this interest in SERS is the generality of the technique with regard to the nature of the material phase in contact with the solid surface. Another reason is that there are several mechanisms that contribute to SERS, and a considerable scientific challenge exists in determining the extent of the contributions of various mechanisms to the overall enhancement.