Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy: A re-examination of the role of surface roughness and electrochemical anodization

Steven G. Schultz, Maria Janik-Czachor, R. P. Van Duyne*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

106 Scopus citations

Abstract

To date all surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) studies have been carried out on rough metal surfaces. This has resulted in the general impression that surface roughness is an absolute prerequisite for the observation of SERS. In this paper we demonstrate, at least for the case of SERS at the solid-liquid interface (i.e., an electrochemical cell) that neither surface roughness (viz., quasi-spherical particles ≥ 250 Å in diameter) or electrochemical anodization are prerequisites to SERS observation. For the model system, Ag/0.05 M pyridine/0.1 M KCl/ H2O, an enhancement factor of ca. 104 is observed on "smooth", unanodized surfaces implying a maximum roughness contribution to the overall enhancement of only about ca. 102. The observation of SERS on "smooth" surfaces is not restricted to pyridine since it can also be observed in the system Ag/0.005 M Pt(CN)42-/0.1 M SO42-/H2O. These results strongly support the hypothesis that the overall SERS enhancement of 106 is the product of 104 enhancement from a roughness independent mechanism (e.g., image-dipole mechanism) and a 102 enhancement from a roughness dependent mechanism (e.g., the development of geometrically defined electromagnetic resonances near rough solid surfaces - "lightning rod mechanism").

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)419-434
Number of pages16
JournalSurface Science
Volume104
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2 1981

Funding

We gratefully acknowledgef inancial support from the Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-79-C-0794),a nd the National Science Foundation (Grant CHE-7824866).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Materials Chemistry

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