title: Black silicon as a platform for bacterial detection.
abstract: Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) shows promise for identifying single bacteria, but the short range nature of the effect makes it most sensitive to the cell membrane, which provides limited information for species-level identification. Here, we show that a substrate based on black silicon can be used to impale bacteria on nanoscale SERS-active spikes, thereby producing spectra that convey information about the internal composition of the bacterial capsule. This approach holds great potential for the development of microfluidic devices for the removal and identification of single bacteria in important clinical diagnostics and environmental monitoring applications.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology , Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hartley
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology , Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: M Myintzu
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hlaing
authors.forename: Gediminas
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seniutinas
authors.forename: Saulius
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Juodkazis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology , Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Stoddart