title: Rapid, solution-based characterization of optimized SERS nanoparticle substrates.
abstract: We demonstrate the rapid optical characterization of large numbers of individual metal nanoparticles freely diffusing in colloidal solution by confocal laser spectroscopy to guide nanoparticle engineering and optimization. We use ratios of the Rayleigh and Raman scattering response and rotational diffusion timescales of individual nanoparticles to show that hollow gold nanospheres and solid silver nanoparticle dimers linked with a bifunctional ligand, both specifically designed nanostructures, exhibit significantly higher monodispersity than randomly aggregated gold and silver nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry, Materials, Earth and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
authors.forename: Ted A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Laurence
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Talley
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schwartzberg
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moskovits
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huser
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D004058:Diffusion; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold