Abstract
Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) has been established as one the most efficient analytical techniques for probing vibrational states with nanoscale resolution. While TERS may be a source of unique information about chemical structure and interactions, it has a limited use for materials with rough or sticky surfaces. Development of the TERS approach utilizing a non-contact scanning probe microscopy mode can significantly extend the number of applications. Here we demonstrate a proof of the concept and feasibility of a non-contact TERS approach and test it on various materials. Our experiments show that non-contact TERS can provide 10 nm spatial resolution and a Raman signal enhancement factor of 105, making it very promising for chemical imaging of materials with high aspect ratio surface patterns and biomaterials.
Highlights
Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is a powerful technique for chemical imaging with nanoscale lateral resolution, combining advantages of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and Raman spectroscopy.[1]
While TERS may be a source of unique information about chemical structure and interactions, it has a limited use for materials with rough or sticky surfaces
Our experiments show that non-contact TERS can provide 10 nm spatial resolution and a Raman signal enhancement factor of 105, making it very promising for chemical imaging of materials with high aspect ratio surface patterns and biomaterials
Summary
Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is a powerful technique for chemical imaging with nanoscale lateral resolution, combining advantages of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and Raman spectroscopy.[1] TERS utilizes different kinds of 3392 | Nanoscale Adv., 2019, 1, 3392–3399 Communication. We show the capability of non-contact mode TERS using several carbon-based nanomaterials and a protein–drug mixture. To test reasonable sensitivity and resolution of non-contact mode TERS we measured multiwall carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide on silicon substrate using 532 nm and 638 nm wavelength lasers. We mapped the TERS signal from graphene on top of a poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer lm using 532 nm light. We tested the non-contact TERS by imaging a protein–drug mixture – ‘sticky’ bio-organic material which has a high tendency for tip contamination and high uorescence
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