Cuboid Arrays as Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) allows for the enhancement of intrinsically weak Raman signal and thus enables the detection of analytes at single-molecule level and chemical specificity. Despite remarkable advancements in specificity and sensitivity however, SERS still suffers from a loss of signal that depends critically on techniques for nanofabrication. In this project, we use cuboid arrays as an ideal platform for a SERS substrate. This study investigates plasmonic materials and structural parameters of the array to achieve resonant enhancement of the local electric field. Our previous studies, using Finite Difference Time Domain method, revealed promising Raman enhancement factors, approaching 10⁸ using self-assembled arrays of gold nanocubes. These enhancement factors can be further improved with outside parameters such as hybridization of material and using a waveguide arrangement structure. The outcome of this work is the development of a low-cost user-friendly SERS substrate with high sensitivity, and stability. This work will broadly impact the field by assisting in the optimization of powerful multidisciplinary chemical sensing devices.