title: Designing, fabricating, and imaging Raman hot spots.
abstract: We have developed a probe of the electromagnetic mechanism of surface-enhanced Raman scattering via Au nanodisk arrays generated by using on-wire lithography. In this approach, disk thickness and interparticle gap are precisely controlled from 5 nm to many micrometers. Confocal Raman microscopy demonstrates that disk thickness and gap play a crucial role in determining surface-enhanced Raman scattering intensities. Theoretical calculations also demonstrate that these results are consistent with the electromagnetic mechanism, including the surprising result that the largest enhancement does not occur for the smallest gaps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-3113, USA.
authors.forename: Lidong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Shengli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.forename: Chad A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mirkin
mesh_terms: D019281:Dimerization; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena / Q000379:methods; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D008751:Methylene Blue