Concurrent surface enhanced infrared and Raman spectroscopy with single molecule sensitivity

Surface enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) and surface enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) were simultaneously measured from the same location on plasmonically active substrates. The spectra were acquired using an optical photothermal infrared spectrometer coupled with a Raman spectrometer. The sensitivity of this approach enables exceptionally small quantities of molecules to be interrogated while providing complementary information from both infrared and Raman spectroscopy. This arrangement provides additional improvement of SEIRA through the enhancement of both the optical photothermal detector signal and the infrared absorption. The plasmonic substrates tested were silver nanospheres and a gold coated atomic force microscope tip. The concurrent acquisition of SEIRA and SERS is further demonstrated by nano-sampling material onto an atomic force microscope tip. The analytes, Buckminsterfullerene and 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl) ethylene, were analyzed individually and as mixtures. The concurrent acquisition of SERIA and SERS is a unique approach. It has general applications in trace surface analysis and for the analysis of returned planetary samples.