The advantage of SERS for the analytical chemist lies in its ability to detect analyte concentrations of parts per million and even parts per billion levels, while classical Raman is limited to parts per thousand.
Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) – Expanding the limits of conventional Raman analysis
Methods for trace detection of analytes can be expensive and time-consuming. Conventional handheld Raman analysis is limited to part per thousand levels in solutions and to solid samples that are easily visible to the naked eye. An extension of Raman spectroscopy, SERS permits analytes in concentrations as low as parts per billion to be measured and non-visible samples to be identified.
Enhancing Raman
Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering or SERS is an anomalous enhancement of Raman scattering when molecules are adsorbed to gold or silver nanoparticles – this enhancement can be as large as 107.
Parts per million / billion
The advantage of SERS for the analytical chemist lies in its ability to detect analyte concentrations of parts per million and even parts per billion levels, while classical Raman is limited to parts per thousand.
Metrohm Raman produces P-SERS assays in the form of nanoparticles printed onto substrates using inkjet technology. This method produces inexpensive test strips that exhibit exceptional stability and sensitivity.
Forensic analysis and food safety
There are two markets that can be easily addressed with P-SERS: forensic analysis and food safety.
This white paper explains the mechanism of SERS and how it can be applied to handheld Raman analysis with Metrohm Raman Mira systems.
