2025/01/30 by Anna Mercedi, Francesco Cardoni, Francesca Toffanello +3 · 1 voice
Materials Science · Engineering · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications #Biosensors and Analytical Detection #Spectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research
paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/jrs.6776
openalex publication_date 2025/01/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
ABSTRACT This study presents a robust and practical methodology for quantifying the Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) Enhancement Factor (EF) on both colloidal and solid substrates. SERS, a powerful technique for enhancing the Raman signals of analytes near plasmonic surfaces, has found extensive applications in fields such as biomedicine and materials science. However, inconsistencies in EF measurement methods have hindered cross‐comparisons between different SERS substrates. This work addresses these challenges by providing a standardized protocol for EF determination for a wide variety of substrates composed of gold and silver nanoparticles, as well as nanostructured surfaces. Using p‐mercaptobenzoic acid (p‐MBA) as a model non‐resonant probe, the approach accounts for key variables including substrate geometry, sampling volume, and substrate inhomogeneity. This reliable and reproducible method offers a practical framework for researchers to assess the performance of SERS substrates with simple instruments and techniques that should be easily available in a Raman spectroscopy laboratory.