Present and Future of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

TLDR

The discovery of Raman scattering enhancement on nanostructured metal surfaces marked a landmark in spectroscopy, and over 45 years of research has expanded SERS into diverse ultrasensitive sensing applications, yet further work is needed before routine analytical and commercial use. The review aims to summarize the current understanding of SERS and forecast future research, applications, and technological developments. The authors collaborated internationally to compile and synthesize the state‑of‑the‑art knowledge on SERS. The review is dedicated to the late SERS pioneer Prof.

Abstract

The discovery of the enhancement of Raman scattering by molecules adsorbed on nanostructured metal surfaces is a landmark in the history of spectroscopic and analytical techniques. Significant experimental and theoretical effort has been directed toward understanding the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect and demonstrating its potential in various types of ultrasensitive sensing applications in a wide variety of fields. In the 45 years since its discovery, SERS has blossomed into a rich area of research and technology, but additional efforts are still needed before it can be routinely used analytically and in commercial products. In this Review, prominent authors from around the world joined together to summarize the state of the art in understanding and using SERS and to predict what can be expected in the near future in terms of research, applications, and technological development. This Review is dedicated to SERS pioneer and our coauthor, the late Prof. Richard Van Duyne, whom we lost during the preparation of this article.