title: Trace molecular detection via surface-enhanced Raman scattering and surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering at a distance of 15 meters.
abstract: We report the first demonstration of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection of para-mercapto benzoic acid (pMBA) and surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) detection of brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) and cresyl violet perchlorate (CVP) with continuous-wave excitation from a stand-off distance of 15 meters. We further report the first stand-off SERRS detection of BCB and CVP at that same distance in the presence of ambient fluorescent and incandescent/blackbody background light. These preliminary results suggest that it is possible to detect sub-nanomole amounts of material at reasonable distances with eye-safe laser powers using stand-off SERRS and serve as proof-of-concept highlighting the potential extension of stand-off Raman spectroscopy to include SERS and SERRS for remote, eye-safe chemical detection, analysis, and imaging in the presence of ambient background light.
authors.affiliation: Duke University, Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 136 Hudson Hall, Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Scaffidi
authors.forename: Molly K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gregas
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lauly
authors.forename: J Chance
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: S Michael
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Angel
authors.forename: Tuan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vo-Dinh
mesh_terms: D001565:Benzoates / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D048588:Benzoxazines; D007834:Lasers; D008027:Light; D010078:Oxazines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D048588:Benzoxazines; D010078:Oxazines; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C013594:4-mercaptobenzoate; C028911:cresyl violet; D012834:Silver; C006797:Brilliant Cresyl Blue