Exploiting plasmonic enhancement with light‐emitting diode excitation in surface‐enhanced Raman scattering. (4th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wasserroth, Sören; Gordeev, Georgy; Juergensen, Sabrina; Kusch, Patryk
• Is Part Of: Journal of Raman spectroscopy. Volume 53:Number 8(2022)
• Page Start: 1380
• Page End: 1385
• Publication Date: 2022-05-04
• Subjects: LED -- Raman -- SERS; Raman spectroscopy -- Periodicals; 535.846
• DOI: 10.1002/jrs.6369
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0377-0486

Abstract

Abstract: Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a well‐established technique that enables the detection of very low molecular concentrations down to single molecules. Typical applications of SERS are the consistent identification of various samples used in chemistry, biology, and physics among others. In contrast to common SERS setups, where lasers are used as excitation source, we exploit SERS to perform Raman spectroscopy with a light‐emitting diode (LED). We demonstrate the applicability of our approach on four different Raman reporters. We unambiguously distinguish two similar designer molecules 4‐nitrothiophenol (p‐NTP) and 5, 5‐dithio‐bis‐(2‐nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) that are often used in SERS experiments. Additionally, we probe Rhodamine 6G that is used in many different applications and carbon nanotubes as a one‐dimensional solid state nanosystem. The LED excited surface‐enhanced Raman spectra reproduce the characteristic Raman modes of the different samples. We compare the LED spectra to Raman spectra excited with a laser at the same wavelength. We envision the combination of LED sources with SERS substrates in the next generation of handheld devices and low‐cost Raman setups. Abstract : The high enhancement factor of a surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate is exploited in the combination with a light‐emitting diode (LED) to perform Raman spectroscopy. The applicability of the approach is demonstrated by unambiguously identifying four different Raman reporters and comparing the spectra with laser excited Raman spectroscopy. The combination of LED sources with SERS substrates opens new pathways in the next generation of handheld devices and low‐cost Raman setups.