Surface enhanced Raman scattering from layered assemblies of close-packed gold nanoparticles

A synthetic method of ordering hydrophilic gold nanoparticles into a close-packed two-dimensional array at a hexane-water interface and subsequent transferring of such structure onto a solid substrate is described. By repeating the transfer process, multilayered gold nanoparticle films are formed without need of linker molecules. Their surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) efficiencies are compared as a function of the number of layers. It is shown that both the number of layers and the particle size contribute to SERS phenomenon. Judging from the noticeable dependence of SERS efficiency on the nanometer scale architecture, the close-packed nanoparticle formation at an immiscible interface presents a facile route to the preparation of highly active and relatively clean SERS substrates by controlling both the particle size and the film thickness. Among the investigated samples, the gold nanoparticle film assembled with quintuple layers of 30 nm diameter particles showed the maximum SERS efficiency.     

基于自组装纳米金单层膜的全内反射SERS研究

采用静电自组装技术分别在玻璃基片和30 nm厚的金膜表面固定一层金纳米粒子(GNP)制得两种表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底,然后通过棱镜全内反射(TIR)激励和背向收集模式分别测试了两种基底上吸附的染料单分子层SERS光谱.实验结果表明两种SERS基底的拉曼增强效果均高度依赖于入射激光的偏振状态,对于玻璃/纳米金SERS基底,s光全内反射导致的拉曼增强因子是线偏振光(p)光的2-5倍,说明该基底上的"热点"位于纳米金单层膜内相邻粒子之间;对于玻璃/金膜/纳米金SERS基底,只有采用p光在特定的全内反射角下才能激发SERS信号,而且测得的SERS信号比玻璃/纳米金基底增强了近30倍.究其原因是p光在金膜表面共振激发的传播表面等离子体与纳米金局域表面等离子体耦合,进而导致显著场增强.实验结果指出在背向收集模式下,由p光激发的SERS信号是非偏振光,包含强度几乎相等的s和p成分.利用玻璃/金膜/纳米金基底还实现了拉曼光定向发射和收集,测得的SERS信号是p光.     

基于自组装纳米金单层膜的全内反射SERS研究

采用静电自组装技术分别在玻璃基片和30 nm厚的金膜表面固定一层金纳米粒子（GNP）制得两种表面增强拉曼散射（SERS）基底,然后通过棱镜全内反射（TIR）激励和背向收集模式分别测试了两种基底上吸附的染料单分子层SERS光谱. 实验结果表明两种SERS基底的拉曼增强效果均高度依赖于入射激光的偏振状态,对于玻璃/纳米金SERS基底,s 光全内反射导致的拉曼增强因子是线偏振光（p）光的2-5 倍,说明该基底上的“热点”位于纳米金单层膜内相邻粒子之间;对于玻璃/金膜/纳米金SERS基底,只有采用p光在特定的全内反射角下才能激发SERS信号,而且测得的SERS信号比玻璃/纳米金基底增强了近30 倍. 究其原因是p 光在金膜表面共振激发的传播表面等离子体与纳米金局域表面等离子体耦合,进而导致显著场增强. 实验结果指出在背向收集模式下,由p 光激发的SERS信号是非偏振光,包含强度几乎相等的s 和p 成分. 利用玻璃/金膜/纳米金基底还实现了拉曼光定向发射和收集,测得的SERS信号是p光.     

Wavelength-scanned surface-enhanced Raman excitation spectroscopy

A detailed wavelength-scanned surface-enhanced Raman excitation spectroscopy (WS SERES) study of benzenethiol adsorbed on Ag nanoparticle arrays, fabricated by nanosphere lithography (NSL), is presented. These NSL-derived Ag nanoparticle array surfaces are both structurally well-characterized and extremely uniform in size. The WS SERES spectra are correlated, both spatially and spectrally, with the corresponding localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectra of the nanoparticle arrays. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra were measured in two excitation wavelength ranges: (1) 425-505 nm, and (2) 610-800 nm, as well as with the 532-nm line from a solid-state diode-pumped laser. The WS SERES spectra have line shapes similar to those of the LSPR spectra. The maximum SERS enhancement factor is shown to occur for excitation wavelengths that are blue-shifted with respect to the LSPR lambda(max) of adsorbate-covered nanoparticle arrays. Three vibrational modes of benzenethiol (1575, 1081, and 1009 cm(-1)) are studied simultaneously on one substrate, and it is demonstrated that the smaller Raman shifted peak shows a maximum enhancement closer to the LSPR lambda(max) than that of a larger Raman shifted peak. This is in agreement with the predictions of the electromagnetic (EM) enhancement mechanism of SERS. Enhancement factors of up to approximately 10(8) are achieved, which is also in good agreement with our previous SERES studies.     

An ionic surfactant-mediated Langmuir-Blodgett method to construct gold nanoparticle films for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

A gold nanoparticle film for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was successfully constructed by an ionic surfactant-mediated Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method. The gold film was formed by adding ethanol to a gold colloid/hexane mixture in the presence of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). Consequently, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) assembled at the water/hexane interface due to the decrease in surface charge density of AuNPs. Since DTAB binds the gold surface by a coulombic force, rather than a chemical bonding, it is easily replaced by target molecules for SERS purposes. The SERS enhancement factor of the 80 nm gold nanoparticle film was approximately 1.2 × 10(6) using crystal violet (CV) as a Raman dye. The SERS signal from the proposed DTAB-mediated film was approximately 10 times higher than that from the octanethiol-modified gold film, while the reproducibility and stability of this film compared to an octanethiol-modified film were similar. This method can also be applied to other metal nanostructures to fabricate metal films for use as a sensitive SERS substrate with a higher enhancement factor.     

复合SERS基底的构建及性质

通过自组装方法以对巯基苯胺(PATP)为偶联分子, 在石英基片上构筑了多种形貌的银钠米粒子单层结构和三明治结构. 研究了组装膜在不同激发线下表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)的增强差异. 研究结果表明, 单层基底和三明治基底中偶联分子的SERS信号因银纳米粒子间的电磁场耦合而显著增强, 且在三明治结构中增强更加明显. 对复合SERS基底增强因子进行计算可知, 复合SERS基底的表面等离子体共振(SPR)峰与激发线的匹配程度越好, 其增强因子越大. 在三明治结构中更易发生PATP分子转变为对巯基偶氮苯(DMAB)分子的激光诱导催化偶联反应. 另外, 该激光诱导催化偶联反应与激发波长密切相关.     

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.     

介孔SiO_2薄膜增敏SERS基底在消逝波激励下的特性表征

采用溶胶-凝胶分子模板法在50 nm厚金膜表面制备约40 nm厚介孔二氧化硅(MPS)薄膜,然后在MPS薄膜表面静电自组装金纳米粒子(GNP)单层膜,形成的多层膜结构用作表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底.利用扫描电镜观测到MPS薄膜具有表面开口多孔结构,有助于小分子向薄膜内快速扩散.基于时域有限差分(FDTD)方法对电场分布的仿真结果指出,在表面等离子体共振(SPR)条件下分布于金膜与GNP之间的消逝场显著增强.由于空间重叠,该增强场能够高效激发MPS内富集的小分子拉曼信号,产生的拉曼信号还可免受金属作用的干扰.利用Kretschmann结构和尼罗蓝(NB)拉曼活性分子测试了Au/MPS/GNP基底在785 nm激发波长下的SERS效果,并与Au/GNP基底进行了比较.结果表明,在SPR条件下,Au/MPS/GNP基底能够导致较强的定向和背向拉曼信号,而且在586 cm-1处的背向拉曼信号强度是Au/GNP基底的40倍,这归功于MPS薄膜.进一步测试表明背向拉曼信号强度与NB浓度成正相关.这意味着Au/MPS/GNP基底具有良好的半定量检测本领.     

Gold nanoparticle multilayer films based on surfactant films as a template: preparation, characterization, and application

Highly ordered gold nanoparticle multilayer films were achieved conveniently using didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) films as a template. The template was produced by casting DDAB chloroform solution onto the surface of a (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane-modified indium tin oxide substrate and then evaporating the organic solvent. Gold nanoparticle multilayer films were prepared by soaking the template in 2.6 nm colloidal gold solution for 120 min. The well-ordered superlattice structure of the DDAB template and the gold nanoparticle multilayer films was identified by x-ray diffraction. The characterizations of the gold nanoparticle multilayer films by UV-vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and cyclic voltammerty were described in detail. The application of the as-prepared gold nanoparticle multilayer films in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was investigated by using Rhodamine 6G as a probe molecule. It was found that the colloidal gold nanoparticle multilayer films exhibit remarkable enhancement ability and can be used as SERS substrates.     

Chemically bound gold nanoparticle arrays on silicon: assembly, properties and SERS study of protein interactions

A highly reproducible and facile method for formation of ordered 2 dimensional arrays of CTAB protected 50 nm gold nanoparticles bonded to silicon wafers is described. The silicon wafers have been chemically modified with long-chain silanes terminated with thiol that penetrate the CTAB bilayer and chemically bind to the underlying gold nanoparticle. The silicon wafer provides a reproducibly smooth, chemically functionalizable and non-fluorescent substrate with a silicon phonon mode which may provide a convenient internal frequency and intensity calibration for vibrational spectroscopy. The CTAB bilayer provides a potentially biomimetic environment for analyte, yet allows a sufficiently small nanoparticle separation to achieve a significant electric field enhancement. The arrays have been characterized using SEM and Raman spectroscopy. These studies reveal that the reproducibility of the arrays is excellent both between batches (<10% RSD) and across a single batch (<5% RSD). The arrays also exhibit good stability, and the effect of temperature on the arrays was also investigated. The interaction of protein and amino acid with the nanoparticle arrays was investigated using Raman microscopy to investigate their potential in bio-SERS spectroscopy. Raman of phenylalanine and the protein bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, BPTI were studied using 785 nm excitation, coincident with the surface plasmon absorbance of the array. The arrays exhibit SERS enhancements of the order of 2.6 x 10(4) for phenylalanine, the standard deviation on the relative intensity of the 1555 cm(-1) mode of phenylalanine is less than 10% for 100 randomly distributed locations across a single substrate and less than 20% between different substrates. Significantly, comparisons of the Raman spectra of the protein and phenylalanine in solution and immobilized on the nanoparticle arrays indicates that the protein is non-randomly orientated on the arrays. Selective SERS enhancements suggest that aromatic residues penetrate through the bilayer inducing conformational changes in the protein.     

Spatially controlled SERS patterning using photoinduced disassembly of gelated gold nanoparticle aggregates

Controlling the assembly of the nanoparticles is important because the optical properties of noble metal nanoparticles, such as the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), are critically dependent on interparticle distances. Among many approaches available, light-induced disassembly is particularly attractive because it enables spatial modification of the optical properties of nanoparticle assemblies. In this study, we prepare gold nanoparticle (AuNP) aggregates in a gel matrix. Irradiation of the gelated AuNP aggregates at 532 nm leads to the disassembly of the aggregates, changing the color (SPR) from dark blue to red and extinguishing the SERS signal along the irradiated pattern, which opens the possibility of facile fabrication of spatially controlled SERS-generating microstructures. The photoinduced disassembly of the AuNP aggregates in solution is also investigated using UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering: realization of localized surface plasmon resonance using unique substrates and methods

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement and the reproducibility of the SERS signal strongly reflect the quality and nature of the SERS substrates because of diverse localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) excitations excited at interstitials or sharp edges. LSPR excitations are the most important ingredients for achieving huge enhancements in the SERS process. In this report, we introduce several gold and silver nanoparticle-based SERS-active substrates developed solely by us and use these substrates to investigate the influence of LSPR excitations on SERS. SERS-active gold substrates were fabricated by immobilizing colloidal gold nanoparticles on glass slides without using any surfactants or electrolytes, whereas most of the SERS-active substrates that use colloidal gold/silver nanoparticles are not free of surfactant. Isolated aggregates, chain-like elongated aggregates and two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures were found to consist mostly of monolayers rather than agglomerations. With reference to correlated LSPR and SERS, combined experiments were carried out on a single platform at the same spatial position. The isolated aggregates mostly show a broadened and shifted SPR peak, whereas a weak blue-shifted peak is observed near 430 nm in addition to broadened peaks centered at 635 and 720 nm in the red spectral region in the chain-like elongated aggregates. In the case of 2D nanostructures, several SPR peaks are observed in diverse frequency regions. The characteristics of LSPR and SERS for the same gold nanoaggregates lead to a good correlation between SPR and SERS images. The elongated gold nanostructures show a higher enhancement of the Raman signal than the the isolated and 2D samples. In the case of SERS-active silver substrates for protein detection, a new approach has been adopted, in contrast to the conventional fabrication method. Colloidal silver nanoparticles are immobilized on the protein functionalized glass slides, and further SERS measurements are carried out based on LSPR excitations. A new strategy for the detection of biomolecules, particularly glutathione, under aqueous conditions is proposed. Finally, supramolecular J-aggregates of ionic dyes incorporated with silver colloidal aggregates are characterized by SERS measurements and correlated to finite-difference time-domain analysis with reference to LSPR excitations. Figure SPR and SERS images for isolated, elongated and two-dimensional gold nanostructures     

Estimation of dielectric function of biotin-capped gold nanoparticles via signal enhancement on surface plasmon resonance

Biotin-capped gold nanoparticles assembled on flat gold with volume fraction f are studied by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) in order to estimate the dielectric function of the gold nanoparticles based on the Maxwell-Garnett (MG) theory. The complex dielectric function (epsilon',epsilon') of the spherical nanoparticles at three representative wavelengths in the vis-near-IR region, i.e., lambda = 543, 632.8, and 1152 nm, is estimated for a surface homogeneously covered with nanoparticles in order to discuss the wavelength dependence of the dielectric function. The SPR response of a surface covered with particles in 2D aggregates is also analyzed. The experimental SPR curve of the particle aggregates deviates from the theoretical predictions, suggesting dipole interactions between particles.     

介孔SiO2薄膜增敏SERS基底在消逝波激励下的特性表征

采用溶胶-凝胶分子模板法在50 nm 厚金膜表面制备约40 nm 厚介孔二氧化硅(MPS)薄膜, 然后在MPS薄膜表面静电自组装金纳米粒子(GNP)单层膜, 形成的多层膜结构用作表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底.利用扫描电镜观测到MPS薄膜具有表面开口多孔结构, 有助于小分子向薄膜内快速扩散. 基于时域有限差分(FDTD)方法对电场分布的仿真结果指出, 在表面等离子体共振(SPR)条件下分布于金膜与GNP之间的消逝场显著增强. 由于空间重叠, 该增强场能够高效激发MPS内富集的小分子拉曼信号, 产生的拉曼信号还可免受金属作用的干扰. 利用Kretschmann 结构和尼罗蓝(NB)拉曼活性分子测试了Au/MPS/GNP基底在785 nm激发波长下的SERS效果, 并与Au/GNP基底进行了比较. 结果表明, 在SPR条件下, Au/MPS/GNP基底能够导致较强的定向和背向拉曼信号, 而且在586 cm^-1处的背向拉曼信号强度是Au/GNP基底的40 倍, 这归功于MPS薄膜. 进一步测试表明背向拉曼信号强度与NB浓度成正相关. 这意味着Au/MPS/GNP基底具有良好的半定量检测本领.     

Size-dependent adsorption of 1,4-phenylenediisocyanide onto gold nanoparticle surfaces

Adsorption of 1,4-phenylenediisocyanide (PDI) has been studied for different-sized gold nanoparticles with mean diameters of 6, 14, 23, 40, 57, and 97 nm using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The SERS enhancement was found to be relatively weak for 6-nm particles due to less aggregation between PDI and gold particles. Concentration-dependent SERS spectra show that PDI was assumed to bridge two different gold particles at low concentrations of PDI, but as the concentration was increased, the bridge appeared to be broken, and PDI bonded to the gold particle only via one of its two isocyanide groups. For the 57- and 97-nm particles, however, the nu(NC)(free) stretching band in the SERS spectrum almost disappeared, even at a high bulk concentration of PDI, differently from the case of the smaller sizes (14, 23, and 40 nm). The 57- and 97-nm particles appeared to cross-link through the pendent isocyanide group even at a high bulk concentration. UV-vis absorption spectra indicated that PDI appeared to aggregate more extensively with increasing size in agreement with Raman data. Our result shows an example that the adsorption scheme of an aromatic diisocyanide may be varied depending on particle size as well as the bulk concentration.     

Detection of Melamine in Powdered Milk Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering with No Pretreatment

We detected a trace amount of melamine in powdered milk using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on gold surfaces at an excitation wavelength of 632.8 nm. A detection limit of ～100 ppm (μg/g) melamine in milk was attained within a few minutes by the gold nanoparticle substrate from chemical reduction; whereas, better sensitivity, as low as ～200 ppb (ng/g), was achieved by the roughened gold substrate. Our method has the advantage of fast and sensitive detection of melamine in powdered milk without pre-treating the samples.     

The effects of Au aggregate morphology on surface-enhanced Raman scattering enhancement

We have identified empirically a relationship between the surface morphology of small individual aggregates (<100 Au nanoparticles) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement. We have found that multilayer aggregates generated greater SERS enhancement than aggregates limited to two-dimensional (2D) or one-dimensional structures, independent of the number of particles. SERS intensity was measured using the 730 cm(-1) vibrational mode of the adsorbed adenine molecule on 75 nm Au particles, at an excitation wavelength of 632.8 nm. To gain insight into these relationships and its mechanism, we developed a qualitative model that considers the collections of interacting Au nanoparticles of an individual aggregate as a continuous single entity that retains its salient features. We found the dimensions of the modeled surface features to be comparable with those found in rough metal surfaces, known to sustain surface plasmon resonance and generate strong SERS enhancement. Among the aggregates that we have characterized, a three 75 nm nanoparticle system was the smallest to generate strong SERS enhancement. However, we also identified single individual Au nanoparticles as SERS active at the same wavelength, but with a diameter twice in size. For example, we observed a symmetric SERS-active particle of 180 nm in diameter. Such individual nanoparticles generated SERS enhancement on the same order of magnitude as the small monolayer Au aggregates, an intensity value significantly stronger than predicted in recent theoretical studies. We also found that an aspect of our model that relates the dimensions of its features to SERS enhancement is also applicable to single individual Au particles. We conclude that the size of the nanoparticle itself, or the size of a protrusion of an irregularly shaped single Au particle, will contribute to SERS enhancement provided that its dimensions satisfy the conditions for plasmon resonance. In addition, by considering the ratio of the generated intensities of typical 2D Au aggregates to the enhancement of individual SERS-active particles, a value of approximately 2 is determined. Its moderate value suggests that it is not the aggregation effect that is responsible for much of the observed SERS enhancement but the surface region associated with the SERS-active site.     

Raman scattering of 4-aminobenzenethiol sandwiched between Ag nanoparticle and macroscopically smooth Au substrate: effects of size of Ag nanoparticles and the excitation wavelength

A nanogap formed by a metal nanoparticle and a flat metal substrate is one kind of "hot site" for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Accordingly, although no Raman signal is observable when 4-aminobenzenethiol (4-ABT), for instance, is self-assembled on a flat Au substrate, a distinct spectrum is obtained when Ag or Au nanoparticles are adsorbed on the pendent amine groups of 4-ABT. This is definitely due to the electromagnetic coupling between the localized surface plasmon of Ag or Au nanoparticle with the surface plasmon polariton of the planar Au substrate, allowing an intense electric field to be induced in the gap even by visible light. To appreciate the Raman scattering enhancement and also to seek the optimal condition for SERS at the nanogap, we have thoroughly examined the size effect of Ag nanoparticles, along with the excitation wavelength dependence, by assembling 4-ABT between planar Au and a variable-size Ag nanoparticle (from 20- to 80-nm in diameter). Regarding the size dependence, a higher Raman signal was observed when larger Ag nanoparticles were attached onto 4-ABT, irrespective of the excitation wavelength. Regarding the excitation wavelength, the highest Raman signal was measured at 568 nm excitation, slightly larger than that at 632.8 nm excitation. The Raman signal measured at 514.5 and 488 nm excitation was an order of magnitude weaker than that at 568 nm excitation, in agreement with the finite-difference time domain simulation. It is noteworthy that placing an Au nanoparticle on 4-ABT, instead of an Ag nanoparticle, the enhancement at the 568 nm excitation was several tens of times weaker than that at the 632.8 nm excitation, suggesting the importance of the localized surface plasmon resonance of the Ag nanoparticles for an effective coupling with the surface plasmon polariton of the planar Au substrate to induce a very intense electric field at the nanogap.     

Controlled interparticle spacing for surface-modified gold nanoparticle aggregates

Aggregation of gold nanoparticles of increasing size has been studied as a consequence of adsorption of 2-aminothiophenol (ATP) on gold nanoparticle surfaces. The capping property of ATP in the acidic pH range has been accounted from UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) studies. The effect of nanoparticle size (8-55 nm) on the nature of aggregation as well as the variation in the optical response due to variable degree of interparticle coupling effects among the gold particles have been critically examined. Various techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, zeta-potential, and average particle size measurement were undertaken to characterize the nanoparticle aggregates. The aggregate size, interparticle distances, and absorption band wavelengths were found to be highly dependent on the pH of the medium and the concentration of the capping agent, ATP. The acquired SERS spectra of ATP relate the interparticle spacing. It has been observed that the SERS signal intensities are different for different sized gold nanoparticles.     

Silica-void-gold nanoparticles: temporally stable surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates

Reproducible detection of a target molecule is demonstrated using temporally stable solution-phase silica-void-gold nanoparticles and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). These composite nanostructures are homogeneous (diameter = 45 +/- 4 nm) and entrap single 13 nm gold nanoparticle cores inside porous silica membranes which prevent electromagnetic coupling and aggregation between adjacent nanoparticles. The optical properties of the gold nanoparticle cores and structural changes of the composite nanostructures are characterized using extinction spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively, and both techniques are used to monitor the formation of the silica membrane. The resulting nanostructures exhibit temporally stable optical properties in the presence of salt and 2-naphthalenethiol. Similar SERS spectral features are observed when 2-naphthalenethiol is incubated with both bare and membrane-encapsulated gold nanoparticles. Disappearance of the S-H Raman vibrational band centered at 2566 cm(-1) with the composite nanoparticles indicates that the target molecule is binding directly to the metal surface. Furthermore, these nanostructures exhibit reproducible SERS signals for at least a 2 h period. This first demonstration of utilizing solution-phase silica-void-gold nanoparticles as reproducible SERS substrates will allow for future fundamental studies in understanding the mechanisms of SERS using solution-phase nanostructures as well as for applications that involve the direct and reproducible detection of biological and environmental molecules.