Electron-enhanced Raman scattering: a history of its discovery and spectroscopic applications to solution and...

Raman scattering spectroscopy can be used to distinguish highly similar molecules and obtain useful information on local physical and chemical environments at their functional group levels. However, obtaining a high-quality Raman spectrum requires high-power excitation and a long acquisition time owing to the inherently small Raman scattering cross section, which is problematic in the analyses of living cells and real-time environmental monitoring. Herein, a new Raman enhancement technique, electron-enhanced Raman scattering (EERS), is described in which artificially generated electrons affect the polarizability of target molecular systems and enhance their inherent Raman cross sections. The EERS technique stands in contrast to the well-known SERS technique, which requires roughened metal surfaces. The history of EERS and its spectroscopic applications to aqueous solutions are presented.