Electrochemical SERS at Periodic Metallic Nanopyramid Arrays

Abstract

This paper reports a simple and scalable colloidal templating nanofabrication technology for generating periodic metallic nanopyramid arrays as electrodes for electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). These periodic arrays of nanopyramids with nanoscale sharp tips and high tip density can enhance the local electromagnetic field in the vicinity of the nanotips, resulting in high SERS enhancement (on the order of 106). The effect of the applied electrode potential and the electrode redox reactions on the SERS enhancement has been investigated. Finite element electromagnetic modeling has also been developed to simulate the electric field amplitude distribution and the corresponding Raman enhancement factors surrounding arrays of nanopyramids.