Plasmon-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: Principles and applications

Plasmon-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (PERS), including surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), has experienced an incredible development over the past 20 years, thanks to its chemical selectivity, elevated sensitivity and spatial resolution well below the diffraction limit. These features have busted the application of PERS to many fields of science, such as material characterization, biochemistry, biomedicine and surface analysis. In this chapter, the basis of plasmonic enhancement are described, together with the main aspects related to the design and the fabrication of proper metallic nanostructures supporting localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Finally, some relevant applications of PERS will be illustrated.”