Surface-Enhanced Vibrational Spectroscopy on Copper, Gold and Silver Surfaces: A Curiosity or a Reliable Analytical Tool?

Surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopy (SEVS) is based on two of several surface-enhanced optical phenomena, i.e. surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA). SEVS deals with the enhanced spectra of species located in close vicinity to nanostructured surfaces with the ability to enhance optical signals. The enhancement is related mostly to plasmonic metals.

The variation in intensity and frequency of spectral bands depends on many influences, for example the type of plasmonic metal used, its chemical reactivity, nanomorphology of SERS substrate, surface potential, molecular orientation of adsorbed layer and excitation wavelength in case of SERS. Selected issues will be discussed in both historical consequences and future trends of SEVS applications.