Quantifying the Contribution of Chemical Enhancement to SERS: A Model Based on the Analysis of Light-Induced Degradation Processes

authored by
Bo Liu, Bonito Thielert, Andreas Reutter, Rainer Stosch, Peter Lemmens
Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is of growing importance in different fields, from clinical analysis/chemistry to food industry. For a better insight into the complex light-matter interaction processes that are underlying the intensity enhancement, it is essential to experimentally distinguish and quantify the contributions based on the chemical mechanism (CM) with respect to the electromagnetic mechanism. Here, we present a model to estimate the relative CM response of Raman modes by analyzing light-induced degradation of target molecules on designed metal/semiconductor SERS substrates. The resulting intensity evolution is described by a biexponential function with two model parameters that allow a differentiation of the enhancement processes. Our work thereby provides a means for a better understanding of CM and will be advantageous for an application of intensity-based quantitative SERS techniques.

External Organisation(s)
Technische Universität Braunschweig
Type
Article
Journal
Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume
123
Pages
19119-19124
No. of pages
6
ISSN
1932-7447
Publication date
08.08.2019
Publication status
Published
Peer reviewed
Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, General Energy, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Electronic version(s)
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b04526 (Access: Closed)