Re-understanding of SERS for General and Standardized Quantitative Analysis

Area of Science:

• Spectroscopy
• Chemical Physics
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) lacks a standardized quantification theory.
• Existing SERS methods struggle with complex samples and trace-level analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a general theory for SERS quantification.
• To introduce intrinsic molecular properties for SERS analysis.
• To develop a standardized procedure for SERS measurements.

Main Methods:

• Proposed intramolecular relative cross section (RCS) and intermolecular relative scattering ability (RSA).
• Developed 'SERS cards' based on experimentally measurable RCS and RSA values.
• Applied the theory to complex systems by treating them as 'virtual' molecules.
• Validated the quantification procedure through experimental verification.

Main Results:

• Established a general SERS quantification theory based on RCS and RSA.
• Demonstrated that RCS and RSA are intrinsic, measurable properties of molecules.
• Confirmed the applicability of RCS and RSA to complex systems as virtual molecules.
• Accurately predicted trace-level mitoxantrone in artificial urine using the developed method.

Conclusions:

• The proposed theory and SERS cards enable quantitative and standardized SERS spectroscopy.
• The virtual molecule concept simplifies the analysis of complex samples.
• This approach facilitates SERS applications in real-world problems and complex matrices.