New limits in ultrasensitive trace detection by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)

We show the possibility of chemical tracing in solution down to a concentration of a fraction of an atto mol (10 −18) by means of non-resonant surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The experiments are demonstrated with rhodamine 6G dissolved in water. Based on our results here, we propose a tech...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inChemical physics letters Vol. 375; no. 1; pp. 84 - 90
Main Authors Etchegoin, P, Maher, R.C, Cohen, L.F, Hartigan, H, Brown, R.J.C, Milton, M.J.T, Gallop, J.C
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 25.06.2003
Elsevier Science
Subjects
Analytical chemistry
Chemistry
Exact sciences and technology
General, instrumentation
Trace analysis
Rhodamine
SERS
Aqueous solution
Chemical sensor
Experimental study
Xanthene dye
Organic compounds
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Summary:We show the possibility of chemical tracing in solution down to a concentration of a fraction of an atto mol (10 −18) by means of non-resonant surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The experiments are demonstrated with rhodamine 6G dissolved in water. Based on our results here, we propose a technique for counting a small number of SERS active molecules in micro-droplets of liquid. It is argued that, by choosing the appropriate SERS enhancement condition, the technique could be used and implemented as a routine analytical method with unprecedented detection capabilities for the monitoring and tracing of important families of biomolecules.
ISSN:0009-2614
1873-4448
DOI:10.1016/S0009-2614(03)00821-2