Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: tip-related issues

After over 15 years of development, tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is now facing a very important stage in its history. TERS offers high detection sensitivity down to single molecules and a high spatial resolution down to sub-nanometers, which make it an unprecedented nanoscale analytical te...

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Published in:Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry 2015-11, Vol.407 (27), p.8177-8195
Main Authors: Huang, Teng-Xiang, Huang, Sheng-Chao, Li, Mao-Hua, Zeng, Zhi-Cong, Wang, Xiang, Ren, Bin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analytical Chemistry
Animals
Biochemistry
Characterization and Evaluation of Materials
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
Deposition
Electrochemistry
Equipment Design
Food Science
Humans
Laboratory Medicine
Mathematical analysis
Methods
Microscopy, Atomic Force - instrumentation
Microtechnology
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Nanoparticles - chemistry
Nanospectroscopy
Nanostructure
Nanotechnology - instrumentation
Production methods
Raman spectroscopy
Review
Spatial resolution
Spectroscopy
Spectrum Analysis, Raman - instrumentation
Stability
Surface Plasmon Resonance - instrumentation
Tips
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Summary:After over 15 years of development, tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is now facing a very important stage in its history. TERS offers high detection sensitivity down to single molecules and a high spatial resolution down to sub-nanometers, which make it an unprecedented nanoscale analytical technique offering molecular fingerprint information. The tip is the core element in TERS, as it is the only source through which to support the enhancement effect and provide the high spatial resolution. However, TERS suffers and will continue to suffer from the limited availability of TERS tips with a high enhancement, good stability, and high reproducibility. This review focuses on the tip-related issues in TERS. We first discuss the parameters that influence the enhancement and spatial resolution of TERS and the possibility to optimize the performance of a TERS system via an in-depth understanding of the enhancement mechanism. We then analyze the methods that have been developed for producing TERS tips, including vacuum-based deposition, electrochemical etching, electrodeposition, electroless deposition, and microfabrication, with discussion on the advantages and weaknesses of some important methods. We also tackle the issue of lifetime and protection protocols of TERS tips which are very important for the stability of a tip. Last, some fundamental problems and challenges are proposed, which should be addressed before this promising nanoscale characterization tool can exert its full potential. Graphical Abstract ᅟ
ISSN:1618-2642
1618-2650
DOI:10.1007/s00216-015-8968-8