Hazards associated with the use of electrochemically prepared substrates in the qualitative analysis of aqueous solutions by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

The different spectral behaviour of silver surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates roughened electrochemically in and without the presence of an analyte has been shown clearly. These differences are associated with anomalous local pH conditions within the cavities in surfaces of high microporosity in the in-situ roughened silver substrates. In-situ roughened silver electrodes appeared to have a much higher porosity compared with ex-situ roughened surfaces.