SERS Performance Factor: A Convenient Parameter for the Enhancement Evaluation of SERS Substrates.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) offers molecular fingerprinting and single-molecule sensitivity for analysis.
• High SERS activity relies on nanostructured plasmonic materials, but standardizing performance evaluation is challenging.
• Existing metrics like EF and AEF have limitations in accuracy and ease of calculation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a new, practical parameter, the SERS performance factor (SPF), for evaluating SERS substrate sensitivity.
• To establish a standardized and reliable protocol for comparing different SERS substrates.
• To provide a simpler calculation method compared to existing enhancement factors.

Main Methods:

• Experimentally, SPF is calculated as the ratio of sensitivities from concentration-dependent SERS and normal Raman measurements.
• Theoretically, SPF quantifies the combined electromagnetic enhancement and interfacial interactions.
• SPF was validated using gold nanoparticles in both colloidal and solid states.

Main Results:

• The proposed SPF parameter provides a practically operational method for SERS substrate evaluation.
• SPF's tendency correlated with probe molecule sensitivity in validation experiments.
• SPF offers a simpler calculation than traditional enhancement factors.

Conclusions:

• The SERS performance factor (SPF) is a convenient and reliable protocol for evaluating SERS substrate performance.
• SPF simplifies the standardization of SERS substrate sensitivity assessment.
• This parameter is crucial for the practical advancement and application of SERS technology.