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Plasmonic Nanoarrays as SERS Substrates: Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives
Lei Yao1,2, Shuying Chen1, Shikuan Yang3
1Key Laboratory of Quantum Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, P. R. China.
Accounts of Chemical Research
|March 12, 2026
Summary
Template-fabricated plasmonic nanoarrays offer a versatile Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) platform for sensitive molecular detection and mechanistic studies. These nanoarrays provide reproducible enhancement and clean surfaces for probing interfacial chemistry, advancing SERS applications.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics and Nanotechnology
- Spectroscopy and Chemical Analysis
Background:
- Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) offers high sensitivity for molecular identification.
- Chemically synthesized nanoparticles are widely used but face challenges in uniformity and reproducibility.
- Plasmonic nanoarrays fabricated by template-assisted physical deposition present a promising alternative SERS platform.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize recent advances in SERS using template-assisted evaporated nanoarrays.
- To highlight the benefits of template-defined architectures for reproducible SERS measurements.
- To showcase the application of nanoarrays in probing interfacial chemistry and reaction mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of plasmonic nanoarrays using template-assisted evaporation (e.g., anodic aluminum oxide lithography).
- Directional deposition to control nanoscale geometry, hotspot distribution, and surface chemistry.
- Integration with various substrates (transparent, soft) for liquid-phase and flexible SERS configurations.
Main Results:
- Template-defined nanoarrays enable reproducible electromagnetic enhancement and polarization-controlled excitation.
- Ligand-free metal surfaces provide well-defined interfaces for studying plasmon-molecule interactions.
- Precise control over architecture facilitates advanced SERS functionalities like hotspot activation and molecular trapping.
- Liquid-phase SERS configurations improve signal stability and mitigate aggregation issues.
- Nanoarrays serve as a controlled platform for mechanistic studies in plasmonic chemistry.
Conclusions:
- Template-fabricated plasmonic nanoarrays are a versatile SERS platform combining sensitive detection with mechanistic insight.
- These nanoarrays offer a controlled environment for studying light-matter interactions and interfacial chemistry.
- Continued advances in fabrication will expand their role in fundamental and applied SERS research.
