Focusing plasmons in nanoslits for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

The focusing of plasmons to obtain a strong and localized electromagnetic-field enhancement for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is increasing the interest in using plasmonic devices as molecular sensors. In this Full Paper, we report the successful fabrication and demonstration of a solid-state plasmonic nanoslit-cavity device equipped with nanoantennas on a freestanding thin silicon membrane as a substrate for SERS. Numerical calculations predict a strong and spatially localized enhancement of the optical field in the nanoslit (6 nm in width) upon irradiation. The predicted enhancement factor of SERS was 5.3 x 10(5), localized in an area of just 6 x 1.5 nm(2). Raman spectroscopy and imaging confirm an enhancement factor of approximately 10(6) for SERS from molecules chemisorbed at the nanoslit, and demonstrate the electromagnetic-field-enhancing function of the plasmonic nanoantennas. The freestanding membrane is open on both sides of the nanoslit, offering the potential for through-slit molecular translocation studies, and opening bright new perspectives for SERS applications in real-time (bio)chemical analysis.