Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) greatly improves
molecule
sensitivity compared with ordinary Raman spectroscopy. To excite and
detect SERS efficiently, we fabricated glass-made microcapillary tubes
decorated with silver nanoparticles inside them. The capillary tubes
work as sample containers, where the required sample volume is in
the order of a few nanoliters. The capillary tubes also play the role
of optical waveguides. The tubes guide the excitation laser light
through them so that the light illuminates whole silver nanoparticles
inside the tubes at once. The tubes guide the SERS light to the tube
end efficiently. The decoration of silver nanoparticles inside the
tubes was performed by the silver mirror reaction. By making the tubes
thinner and longer, highly sensitive SERS spectroscopy can be achieved.
Our method would be a powerful tool for high-sensitivity molecule
detection where the sample volume and concentration are extremely
low.
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