On the Experimental Estimation of Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Cross Sections by Vibrational Pumping

Abstract

We present an in-depth analysis of the experimental estimation of cross-sections in surface enhanced raman scattering (SERS) by vibrational pumping. The paper highlights the advantages and disadvantages of the technique, pinpoints the main aspects and limitations, and provides the underlying physical concepts to interpret the experimental results. Examples for several commonly used SERS probes are given, and a discussion on future possible developments is also presented. Obtaining good estimates of SERS cross-sections is, in general, an extremely hard problem and has been a longstanding ambition of the SERS community for reasons that go from the purely applied (quantification of signals) to the more fundamental (comparisons of theoretical electromagnetic enhancement factors with experiment). Any method that can produce a standard protocol for the estimation of cross-sections is, accordingly, of great interest and an effort to understand its principles and limitations is required.

A Review on Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

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SERS using two-photon polymerized nanostructures for mycotoxin detection

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“…The main difficulty associated with intracellular SERS is the lack of SERS‐active nanoprobes, which provide reproducible signals and do not affect the cell viability . It is important to remember, however, that very extensive experimental and theoretical work has been conducted on elucidating the mechanisms of SERS enhancement . By combining this knowledge with the latest advances in nanotechnology, the possibility exists to expedite the development of reliable and widely accessible SERS probes for intracellular analysis.…”