Abstract
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a powerful tool for vibrational spectroscopy as it provides several orders of magnitude higher sensitivity than inherently weak spontaneous Raman scattering by exciting localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) on metal substrates. However, SERS can be unreliable for biomedical use since it sacrifices reproducibility, uniformity, biocompatibility, and durability due to its strong dependence on “hot spots”, large photothermal heat generation, and easy oxidization. Here, we demonstrate the design, fabrication, and use of a metal-free (i.e., LSPR-free), topologically tailored nanostructure composed of porous carbon nanowires in an array as a SERS substrate to overcome all these problems. Specifically, it offers not only high signal enhancement (~106) due to its strong broadband charge-transfer resonance, but also extraordinarily high reproducibility due to the absence of hot spots, high durability due to no oxidization, and high compatibility to biomolecules due to its fluorescence quenching capability.
Highlights
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a powerful tool for vibrational spectroscopy as it provides several orders of magnitude higher sensitivity than inherently weak spontaneous Raman scattering by exciting localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) on metal substrates
The PNA undergoes an electrical degradation process in a high-temperature dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution containing sulfur clusters under an oppositely applied voltage to form a large number of nanopores in each PPy nanowire, which transforms into a porous polypyrrole nanowire array (PPNA) and effectively increases the specific surface area (SSA) and roughness
Each porous nanowire of the porous carbon nanowire array (PCNA) has an average diameter of 140 nm and an average length of 15 μm after the carbonization (Fig. 1a, Supplementary Fig. 4, Supplementary Note 6), which is in agreement with those of the anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) template
Summary
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a powerful tool for vibrational spectroscopy as it provides several orders of magnitude higher sensitivity than inherently weak spontaneous Raman scattering by exciting localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) on metal substrates.
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