Proof of single-molecule sensitivity in surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) by means of a two-analyte technique.
A method is proposed to pin down unambiguous proof for single-molecule sensitivity in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The simultaneous use of two analyte molecules enables a clear confirmation of the single (or few)-molecule nature of the signals. This method eliminates most of the uncertainties associated with low dye concentrations in previous experiments. It further shows that single- or few-molecule signals are very common in SERS, both in liquids and on dry substrates.
MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand. Eric.LeR@vuw.ac.nz
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