posted on 2024-01-10, 21:31authored byGema Cabello, Igor V. Sazanovich, Ioannis Siachos, Matthew Bilton, Beata L. Mehdi, Alex R. Neale, Laurence J. Hardwick
The combination of
surface-enhanced and Kerr-gated Raman spectroscopy
for the enhancement of the Raman signal and suppression of fluorescence
is reported. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active gold
substrates were demonstrated for the expansion of the surface generality
of optical Kerr-gated Raman spectroscopy, broadening its applicability
to the study of analytes that show a weak Raman signal in highly fluorescent
media under (pre)resonant conditions. This approach is highlighted
by the well-defined spectra of rhodamine 6G, Nile red, and Nile blue.
The Raman spectra of fluorescent dyes were obtained only when SERS-active
substrates were used in combination with the Kerr gate. To achieve
enhancement of the weaker Raman scattering, Au films with different
roughnesses or Au-core-shell-isolated nanoparticles (SHINs) were used.
The use of SHINs enabled measurement of fluorescent dyes on non-SERS-active,
optically flat Au, Cu, and Al substrates.