Pre-resonance Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy study of the complex of the antiviral and antiparkinsonian drug amantadine with histidine

UV-pre-resonance Raman spectroscopy (PRS) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) were applied to study the interaction of the antiviral and antiparkinsonian agent amantadine with histidine. The binding sites of amantadine and histidine molecules were identified in the complex. In this model, (i) the amino group of amantadine and the N1H group of histidine are included in the complex formation, (ii) the creation of the complex is mediated via formation of an H-bond between the nitrogen of the amantadine amino group and the hydrogen of the histidine N1H group. This model of the amantadine–histidine complex formation is discussed in the relation to a possible mode of interaction of the M2 protein transmembrane region with amantadine.     

Vibrational and surface-enhanced vibrational spectra of 6-nitrochrysene

The infrared and Raman spectra of solids and thin solid films of 6-nitrochrysene, its electronic spectra, and resonance Raman scattering (RRS) obtained with UV-laser excitation at 325 nm are reported. The vibrational assignment is supported by ab initio computations at the B3LYP/6-311G(d, p) level of theory. The molecular organization in nanometric films evaporated onto smooth metal surfaces of silver and copper was probed using reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS). The results of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) obtained from nanometric films evaporated onto silver island films are also discussed. It was found that the molecule efficiently interacts with silver island film surfaces, and that the interaction leads to extensive photochemical reaction at the metal surface under laser illumination.     

密度泛函理论研究银上吸附对巯基吡啶的SERS化学增强效应

基于密度泛函理论计算和拉曼光谱理论分析,我们研究了对巯基吡啶(4MPY)分子的拉曼光谱和其在银上的表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS),并进一步探讨了SERS与界面吸附结构、异构化、质子化和氢键作用以及低能激发态的关系。首先,我们对两种分子异构体的相对稳定性和拉曼光谱进行了理论分析。在此基础上,进而研究了该分子与不同银簇作用时的拉曼光谱,结果表明,4MPY以巯基硫与银簇作用形成强的Ag―S键,导致拉曼光谱的线型不依赖于所选银簇的大小。接着我们考虑了吡啶氮端作用的两种情况。(1)当4MPY-银簇复合物同时以吡啶氮与水簇或水合质子簇形成氢键时,结果表明吡啶环的部分振动频率随氢键和质子化发生蓝移。(2)当考虑吡啶氮与银簇作用时,吡啶环三角畸变振动发生蓝移。上述情况不仅解释了实验观测的振动频率变化,而且表明了化学环境改变对相对拉曼强度的影响。最后,我们计算了当对巯基吡啶分子以单端或双端与银簇作用,在考虑激发光与低能激发态的能量匹配时,拉曼光谱强度与低能激发态的关系。计算结果表明,在双端吸附构型下,与吡啶氮成键的银簇受激发产生电荷转移态,不仅导致吡啶环v_(12)、v_1和v_(8a)振动的拉曼信号增强,而且选择性地增强吡啶环C―H面内对称弯曲振动v9a的拉曼信号。     

Monosodium glutamate in its anhydrous and monohydrate form: differentiation by Raman spectroscopies and density functional calculations

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a common flavor enhancer, is detected in aqueous solutions by Raman and surface-enhanced Raman (SERS) spectroscopies at the micromolar level. The presence of different species, such as protonated and unprotonated MSG, is demonstrated by concentration and pH dependent Raman and SERS experiments. In particular, the symmetric bending modes of the amino group and the stretching modes of the carboxy moiety are employed as marker bands. The protonation of the NH(2) group at acidic pH values, for example, is detected in the Raman spectra. From the measured SERS spectra, a strong chemical interaction of MSG with the colloidal particles is deduced and a geometry of MSG adsorbed on the silver surface is proposed. In order to assign the observed Raman bands, calculations employing density functional theory (DFT) were performed. The calculated geometries, harmonic vibrational wavenumbers and Raman scattering activities for both MSG forms are in good agreement with experimental data. The set of theoretical data enables a complete vibrational assignment of the experimentally detected Raman spectra and the differentiation between the anhydrous and monohydrate forms of MSG.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering study of the anthraquinone red pigment carminic acid

FT-Raman and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy were applied in the vibrational characterization and study of the adsorption and acidity behaviour of the highly fluorescent anthraquinone red pigment carminic acid (CA) on Ag nanoparticles prepared by chemical reduction with citrate and hydroxylamine. The SERS spectra were obtained at several pHs and excitation wavelengths and on Ag nanoparticles prepared by two different methods: chemical reduction with citrate and hydroxylamine in order to find the best experimental conditions for the vibrational study and detection of CA. Three CA forms can be identified on the metal surface, corresponding to the mono-, di- and tri-anionic CA species, whose relative intensity in the SERS spectra can markedly vary depending on the chemical properties of the offered surface and the excitation wavelength. This study could be very helpful for researchers trying to apply surface-enhanced techniques in the detection of small amounts of anthraquinone molecules, both under a cultural heritage and under a biological point of view.     

Oxadiazole‐2‐thiol Adsorption on Gold Nanorods: A Joint Theoretical and Experimental Study by Using SERS,XPS, and DFT

The chemisorption of 1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐2‐thiol (ODT) on gold nanorods has been investigated by using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and density functional theory (DFT). Although most of the SERS spectra have remarkable similarity to the normal Raman spectra of the pure analyte, the adsorption of ODT on a gold surface leads to a drastic change in its Raman spectrum and distinct vibrational features are obtained with gold nanorods and spherical nanoparticles. Simulated Raman spectra for hybrid systems that consist of an oxadiazole moiety coordinated to a Au₂₀ gold cluster provided valuable information about the coordination mode and enabled us to assign vibration modes.     

Characterization of the surface enhanced raman scattering (SERS) of bacteria

The surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of a number of species and strains of bacteria obtained on novel gold nanoparticle (approximately 80 nm) covered SiO(2) substrates excited at 785 nm is reported. Raman cross-section enhancements of >10(4) per bacterium are found for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria on these SERS active substrates. The SERS spectra of bacteria are spectrally less congested and exhibit greater species differentiation than their corresponding non-SERS (bulk) Raman spectra at this excitation wavelength. Fluorescence observed in the bulk Raman emission of Bacillus species is not apparent in the corresponding SERS spectra. Despite the field enhancement effects arising from the nanostructured metal surface, this fluorescence component appears "quenched" due to an energy transfer process which does not diminish the Raman emission. The surface enhancement effect allows the observation of Raman spectra of single bacterial cells excited at low incident powers and short data acquisition times. SERS spectra of B. anthracis Sterne illustrate this single cell level capability. Comparison with previous SERS studies reveals how the SERS vibrational signatures are strongly dependent on the morphology and nature of the SERS active substrates. The potential of SERS for detection and identification of bacterial pathogens with species and strain specificity on these gold particle covered glassy substrates is demonstrated by these results.     

FT-IR, FT-raman and SERS spectra of L-proline

IR, Raman and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of L-proline were recorded and analyzed. The molecular plane assumes a tilted orientation with respect to the metal surface. The vibrational wavenumbers and corresponding vibrational assignments are examined theoretically using the Gaussian 03 set of quantum chemistry codes.     

The pH dependent Raman spectroscopic study of caffeine

First of all the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and normal Raman spectra of caffeine aqueous solution were obtained at different pH values. In order to obtain the detailed vibrational assignments of the Raman spectroscopy, the geometry of caffeine molecule was optimized by density functional theory (DFT) calculation. By comparing the SERS of caffeine with its normal spectra at different pH values; it is concluded that pH value can dramatically affect the SERS of caffeine, but barely affect the normal Raman spectrum of caffeine aqueous solution. It can essentially affect the reorientation of caffeine molecule to the Ag colloid surface, but cannot impact the vibration of functional groups and chemical bonds in caffeine molecule.     

Vibrational study of the salicylate interaction with metallic ions and surfaces

Infrared and Raman spectroscopy are used in this work to study the metallic complexes of salicylic acid with silver and copper, comparing the interaction between salicylate and the cations (Ag+ and Cu2+) in the metal complexes with the SERS spectra when adsorbed on colloidal metal surfaces of the same metals. The salicylate complexes with the above metals were compared to those of Na+, Fe3+ and Al3+ cations. A different interaction mechanism is deduced for salicylate in the metal complex and when adsorbed on the metal surface.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering: a new optical probe in molecular biophysics and biomedicine

Sensitive and detailed molecular structural information plays an increasing role in molecular biophysics and molecular medicine. Therefore, vibrational spectroscopic techniques, such as Raman scattering, which provide high structural information content are of growing interest in biophysical and biomedical research. Raman spectroscopy can be revolutionized when the inelastic scattering process takes place in the very close vicinity of metal nanostructures. Under these conditions, strongly increased Raman signals can be obtained due to resonances between optical fields and the collective oscillations of the free electrons in the metal. This effect of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) allows us to push vibrational spectroscopy to new limits in detection sensitivity, lateral resolution, and molecular structural selectivity. This opens up exciting perspectives also in molecular biospectroscopy. This article highlights three directions where SERS can offer interesting new capabilities. This includes SERS as a technique for detecting and tracking a single molecule, a SERS-based nanosensor for probing the chemical composition and the pH value in a live cell, and the effect of so-called surface-enhanced Raman optical activity, which provides information on the chiral organization of molecules on surfaces.     

IR, Raman and SERS spectra of disodium terephthalate

The IR and Raman spectra of disodium terephthalate were recorded and analysed. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum was recorded in silver colloid. The vibrational wavenumber of the compound have been computed using the Hartree-Fock/6-31G* basis and compared with the experimental values. SERS studies suggest a flat orientation of the molecule at the metal surface.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering study of the adsorption of croconate violet on colloidal silver particles

Very stable silver particle suspension has been synthesized for use in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy with near-infrared exciting radiation. Such citrate-stabilized silver particles were obtained through a suitable control of the nucleation and growth process during the synthesis. The SERS spectra of the bis(dicyanomethylene) croconate dianion or croconate violet (CrocV) were obtained, with excitation in the near-infrared and in the visible region. The differences in the spectral patterns were correlated with a pre-resonance Raman effect of the adsorbate. The vibrational frequencies of CrocV isolated and interacting with silver surface were obtained through theoretical calculations using DFT method that together the surface selection rules allowed to perform the vibrational assignment of the SERS spectra and to infer the adsorption geometry.     

Functionalization of Ag nanoparticles with dithiocarbamate calix[4]arene as an effective supramolecular host for the surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

We report the use of 25,27-diethyl-dithiocarbamic-26,28-dihydroxy-p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene in the functionalization of Ag nanoparticles for pyrene detection by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). SERS spectra provided information about the calixarene orientation on the metal surface and the interaction mechanism with pyrene. Thus, in this work, we have combined a powerful spectroscopy technique such as SERS, the electronic plasmon-based properties of nanostructured metals, the molecular size-selective recognition of calixarene, and the strong chelating properties of the dithiocarbamate group toward the metal surface in the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.     

IR, Raman and SERS studies of methyl salicylate

The IR and Raman spectra of methyl salicylate (MS) were recorded and analysed. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum was recorded in silver colloid. The vibrational wave numbers of the compound have been computed using the Hartree-Fock/6-31G* basis and compared with the experimental values. SERS studies suggest a flat orientation of the molecule at the metal surface.     

过渡金属表面α-吡啶基的振动光谱学判据

基于簇模型采用密度泛函理论在B3LYP/6-311+G^**/LANL2DZ(metal)基组水平上计算了吡啶及α-吡啶基吸附于Pt、Pd、Rh、Ni四种金属表面的红外和拉曼光谱. 通过详细地分析和比较计算结果与文献报道的实验谱图, 提出了以N端吸附的吡啶分子和α-吡啶基这两种表面物种各自存在的谱学判据. 计算结果表明在以上四种金属表面, α-吡啶基的拉曼活性比吡啶的小, 而特征谱峰的红外强度与吡啶相当. 该结果表明红外光谱是检测金属表面α-吡啶基的有效手段, 也解释了采用表面增强拉曼光谱和红外光谱研究吡啶吸附在金属表面得出不同结构的原因.     

Adsorption of 2-aminobenzothiazole on colloidal silver particles: an experimental and theoretical surface-enhanced Raman scattering study

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of the biologically important 2-aminobenzothiazole (2-ABT) molecule adsorbed on silver hydrosols are compared with its FTIR spectrum and normal Raman spectroscopy (NRS) spectrum in the bulk and in solution. The optimized structural parameters and the computed vibrational wavenumbers of the compound have been estimated from ab initio (Hatree-Fock) and density functional calculations. Some vibrational modes of the molecule have been reassigned. Concentration-dependent SERS spectra of the molecule reveal the existence of two types of vertically adsorbed species on colloidal silver particles, whose relative population varies with the adsorbate concentrations. The adsorption geometry and structural parameters of one type of adsorbed species are related to the NRS spectrum of the chemically prepared and theoretically modeled 2-ABT-Ag(I) coordination compound.     

Sub-wavelength Raman spectroscopy on isolated silver islands

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is a valuable analytical tool for the investigation of molecules adsorbed on roughened noble metal surfaces. The shape, size, and surrounding of the metal protrusions play an important role in the Raman scattering enhancement. By combining scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) with Raman spectroscopy the spatial resolution suffices for investigating isolated silver islands on SERS active substrates. We demonstrate an optical resolution below 70 nm for recording spectra on specifically prepared and fully characterized SERS substrates. For a quantitative evaluation of the SERS signal the spatial distribution of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) deposited on the SERS substrate was determined by friction force measurements. By comparing the Raman intensities of the SERS substrates with those of unmetallized support plates absolute SERS enhancement factors at specific locations on top and in the vicinity of the silver islands were determined directly.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering and adsorption studies of morphine on silver island film

In this work, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), infrared adsorption (IR), normal Raman (NR) scattering as well as density functional theory (DFT) computational methods have been employed to investigate the adsorption and orientation of morphine on silver surface. The structure of morphine and its vibrational spectra were determined at B3LYP/6-31G(d) level, and the results were used in the assignment of the vibrational spectra. The calculated data showed fairly good agreement with both corresponding experimentally observed spectra. These results, along with the application of surface selection rules of SERS, suggest that the molecules had a charge transfer adsorption on Ag island film and both planes of its ‘T’ type structure had a rather perpendicular orientation to the substrate mainly via the lone-pair electrons of the oxygens.     

In situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic studies of nafion adsorption on Au and Pt electrodes

Understanding interactions between Nafion (perfluorosulfonic acid) and Pt catalysts is important for the development and deployment of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. However, study of such interactions is challenging and Nafion/Pt interfacial structure remains elusive. In this study, adsorption of Nafion ionomer on Au and Pt surfaces was investigated for the first time by in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The study is made possible by the use of uniform SiO(2)@Au core-shell particle arrays which provides very strong enhancement of Raman scattering. The high surface sensitivity offered by this approach yields insightful information on interfacial Nafion structure. Through spectral comparison of several model compounds, vibration assignments of SERS bands were made. The SER spectra suggest the direct interaction of sulfonate group with the metal surfaces, in accord with cyclic voltammetric results. Comparison of present SERS results with previous IR spectra was briefly made.