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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Single-Molecule Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Measurements Enabled by Plasmonic DNA Origami Nanoantennas
Published on: July 21, 2023
Trace molecular detection via surface-enhanced Raman scattering and surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering at a
Jonathan P Scaffidi1, Molly K Gregas, Benoit Lauly
1Duke University, Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 136 Hudson Hall, Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
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.
