Tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy using single‐crystalline Ag nanowire as tip

We report the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect from the apex of single‐crystalline Ag nanowires (NWs). We also fabricated tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) tips by attaching individual Ag NWs to W wires by using the alternating current dielectrophoresis (AC‐DEP) method. The single‐crystalline Ag NW tips could overcome many of the shortcomings of conventional TERS tips. Most importantly, the results obtained from TERS using single‐crystalline metal NWs are very reproducible, and the tips are also reusable. This development represents a significant progress in making TERS a reliable optical characterization technique with nanometer spatial resolution. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ultraviolet tip‐enhanced nanoscale Raman imaging

We have constructed an ultraviolet (UV)‐apertureless near‐field scanning optical microscope‐Raman spectroscopy system by using an aluminum tip for the simultaneous measurement of topography and Raman scattering of nanomaterials with high spatial resolution. The topography, Rayleigh scattering image, and tip‐enhanced Raman scattering image of the carbon nanotube film showed that a spatial resolution of around 19 nm was achieved. This spatial resolution of UV‐Raman mapping image exceeds that of previous approaches, which have several hundred nanometers of spatial resolution. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopy of surfaces

Raman scattering has usually a very low efficiency. Therefore, during the first five decades after its discovery, Raman spectroscopic investigations of adsorbate-covered surfaces (except surfaces of highly porous samples) were out of reach. This changed in 1970s, when for molecules adsorbed on some surfaces, very large increase of the intensity of Raman spectrum (denoted as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy – SERS) was reported. In the past decade, two other very important achievements in surface Raman spectroscopy have been made: observation of SER spectrum of a single molecule and coupling of Raman spectroscope with the scanning probe microscope (STM or AFM) allowing a significant increase in the spatial resolution of Raman measurements in so-called tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS). In the latter approach, fine tip made of a metal that supports surface plasmon resonances (such tip may be treated as a very local electromagnetic resonator) is brought at the nanometer distance above the surface, which induces large increase of the Raman scattering from molecules adsorbed at a surface located underneath the tip. This short review presents an overview of the state of the art and further possible applications of Raman spectroscopy in surface analysis. We mainly focus on SERS and TERS. Future prospects in these fields are also discussed.     

Plasmonic tip for nano Raman microcopy: structures,materials, and enhancement

Optical Review - Tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) microscopy is becoming an important tool for analyzing advanced nanomaterials and nanodevices because of its high spatial resolution and high...     

High-vacuum tip enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy （TERS） is high-sensitivity and high spatial-resolution optical analytical technique with nanoscale resolution beyond the diffraction limit. It is also one of the most recent advances in nanoscale chemical analysis. This review provides an overview of the state-of-art inTERS, in-depth information about the different available types of instruments including their （dis）advantages and capabilities. Finally, an overview about recent development in High-Vacuum TERS is given and some challenges are raised.     

Raman to the limit: tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopic investigations of a single tobacco mosaic virus

The development of fast identification techniques of viruses is an ongoing important research topic. Conventional virus detection and identification is generally based on various different microbiological methods. However, these techniques are not suitable for the analysis of single virus particles. Therefore, our goal is to establish tip‐enhanced Raman scattering (TERS), providing vibrational spectroscopic information with a spatial resolution less than 50 nm, to characterize single viruses at a molecular level. Here we report, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, about TERS spectra of a tobacco mosaic virus, showing the great capability of this technique. However, the application of the TERS technique for a rapid and direct detection of different species of single viruses is under development, which is useful for a wide range of analytical fields. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploring the origin of tip‐enhanced Raman scattering; preparation of efficient TERS probes with high yield

Tip‐enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) spectroscopy is a promising technique for nanoscale chemical analysis. However, there are several challenges preventing widespread application of this technology, including reproducible fabrication of efficient TERS probes. These problems reflect a lack of clear understanding of the origins of, and the parameters influencing TERS. It is believed that the coating characteristics at the apex of the tip have a major effect on the near‐field optical enhancement and thus the TERS activity of a metalized probe. Here we show that the aspect ratio of the tip can play a significant role in the efficiency of TERS probes. We argue that the electrostatic field arising from the lightning‐rod effect has a substantial role in the observed TERS effect. This argument is supported by ‘edge‐enhanced Raman scattering’ which is shown for a noble metal film. Furthermore, it is reported that an associated tip‐surface‐enhanced Raman scattering effect can be achieved by using a TERS‐inactive metalized probe on a surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy‐inactive roughened surface. This observation can be explained by an interparticle enhancement of the electromagnetic field. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of individual isotopes in a polymer blend using tip enhanced Raman spectroscopy

For the first time, tip enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) blinking measurements are used to identify the individual isotopes of non‐Raman resonant polystyrene in a miscible, binary blend. This demonstrates the sensitivity and selectivity required for nanoscale chemical imaging and broadens the types of surface components potentially identifiable with TERS. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Near-field Raman spectroscopy of biological nanomaterials by in situ laser-induced synthesis of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy tips

We report a new approach in tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) in which TERS-active tips with enhancement factors of ～10(-5)× can be rapidly (1-3 min) produced in situ by laser-induced synthesis of silver nanoparticles at the tip apex. The technique minimizes the risks of tip contamination and damage during handling and provides in situ feedback control, which allows the prediction of the tip performance. We show that TERS tips produced by this technique enable the measurement of spatially resolved TERS spectra of self-assembled peptide nanotubes with a spatial resolution of ～20 nm.     

单壁碳纳米管束针尖增强近场拉曼光谱探测实验研究

针尖增强近场拉曼光谱术是最近发展起来的光谱技术。金属探针在获得样品纳米局域表面形貌的同时,受激光激发,在针尖附近产生增强电磁场,得到与形貌位置精确对应的针尖增强局域拉曼光谱,形貌和光谱的结合实现了纳米局域的光谱指认。文章建立了一套针尖增强近场拉曼光谱测量装置,并用此装置对电弧法合成的单壁碳纳米管进行了近场拉曼光谱探测。测量了直径为100 nm单壁碳纳米管束的针尖增强拉曼光谱,进一步得到至多3根单壁碳纳米管的近场拉曼光谱,实现了超衍射分辨光谱探测。通过与远场拉曼光谱比较发现,针尖增强近场拉曼光谱的增强因子大于230倍。实验证明,同时具有超衍射空间分辨和拉曼光谱信号增强能力的针尖增强近场拉曼光谱术将是纳米材料和纳米结构表征的一种重要方法。     

Nano‐imaging through tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy: Stepping beyond the classical limits

The spatial resolution in optical imaging is restricted by so‐called diffraction limit, which prevents it to be better than about half of the wavelength of the probing light. Tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), which is based on the SPP‐induced plasmonic enhancement and confinement of light near a metallic nanostructure, can however, overcome this barrier and produce optical images far beyond the diffraction limit. Here in this article, the basic phenomenon involved in TERS is reviewed, and the high spatial resolution achieved in optical imaging through this technique is discussed. Further, it is shown that when TERS is combined with some other physical phenomena, the spatial resolution can be dramatically improved. Particularly, by including tip‐applied extremely localized pressure in TERS process, it has been demonstrated that a spatial resolution as high as 4 nm could be achieved.     

Tip-enhanced Raman scattering: Influence of the tip-surface geometry on optical resonance and enhancement

The tip-sample distance (z) dependence of tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) has been investigated. The intensities of both, the Raman lines and the broad TERS background, exhibit strong decays with increasing z, which are nearly complete within 10 nm withdrawal of the STM tip in z direction. Interestingly, the maximum of the broad Lorentzian-shaped TER background is substantially blue shifted in energy with z. This effect is ascribed to a corresponding blue shift of the energies of localized plasmon modes upon tip retraction. Both experimental results fit very well data of a simple theoretical near-field model.     

基于拉曼散射的光纤分布式温度测量系统的空间分辨力

基于自发拉曼散射的光纤分布式温度测量系统是一种真正的分布传感系统且已商品化。本文从光学的角度出发较详细地分析了此类系统的空间分辨力理论极限及其影响因素。分析表明， 对于一个１ ｋｍ 的多模系统， 若接收机的最小可分辨光功率优于３．５ ｐＷ， 则其在０～４００℃的范围内且温度精度为±１℃时的空间分辨力极限为２ ｃｍ ； 当接收机的最小可分辨光功率小于０．５ ｐＷ， 单模系统的空间分辨力极限优于对应的多模系统。因此， 把基于自发拉曼散射机理的光纤分布式温度测量系统用于短距离高分辨力的系统理论上是可行的。     

针尖增强拉曼光谱:技术、应用和发展

本文从提高表面拉曼光谱检测灵敏度和空间分辨率两个方面的发展叙述了针尖增强拉曼光谱的原理、方法、特点及最新进展。利用单晶电极上单分子层吸附物种的TERS研究和单壁碳纳米管的TERS成像例证了TERS所具有的高检测灵敏度和高空间分辨率。介绍了TERS理论的最新研究进展,并对TERS的应用前景做了预测。     

Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and Mapping of Graphene Sheets

Abstract: Single graphene sheets, a few graphene layers, and bulk graphite, obtained via both micromechanical cleavage of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and carbon vapor deposition methods, were deposited on a thin glass substrate without the use of any chemical treatment. Micro-Raman spectroscopy, tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy mapping (TERM) were used for characterization of the graphene layers. In particular, TERM allows for the investigation of individual graphene sheets with high Raman signal enhancement factors and allows for imaging of local defects with nanometer resolution. Enhancement up to 560% of the graphene Raman band intensity was obtained using TERS. TERM (with resolution better than 100 nm) showed an increase in the number of structural defects (D band) on the edges of both graphene and graphite regions.     

Subdiffraction‐limited chemical imaging of patterned phthalocyanine films using tip‐enhanced near‐field optical microscopy

A tip‐enhanced near‐field optical microscope, based on a shear‐force atomic force microscope with plasmonic tip coupled to an inverted, confocal optical microscope, has been constructed for nanoscale chemical (Raman) imaging of surfaces. The design and validation of the instrument, along with its application to near‐field Raman mapping of patterned organic thin films (coumarin‐6 and Cu(II) phthalocyanine), are described. Lateral resolution of the instrument is estimated at 50 nm (better than λ/10), which is roughly dictated by the size of the plasmonic tip apex. Additional observations, such as the distance scaling of Raman enhancement and the inelastic scattering background generated by the plasmonic tip, are presented. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deep‐UV tip‐enhanced Raman scattering

We report for the first time the tip‐enhancement of resonance Raman scattering using deep ultraviolet (DUV) excitation wavelength. The tip‐enhancement was successfully demonstrated with an aluminum‐coated silicon tip that acts as a plasmonic material in DUV wavelengths. Both the crystal violet and adenine molecules, which were used as test samples, show electronic resonance at the 266‐nm excitation used in the experiments. With results demonstrated here, molecular analysis and imaging with nanoscale spatial resolution in DUV resonance Raman spectroscopy can be realized using the tip‐enhancement effect. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

可调空间分辨USEDCARS技术研究

相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射（CARS）技术是一种非常重要的燃烧诊断技术,该技术具有非常强的抗干扰能力和非常高的测量精度。但空间分辨力不足会使CARS技术产生很强的空间平均效应,引起成CARS光谱畸变,进而造成CARS光谱分析困难,无法通过CARS光谱反演燃烧场参数。针对非稳腔空间增强探测CARS（USEDCARS）技术存在的空间分辨不足以及空间分辨力不易改变的特点,分析了影响USEDCARS技术测量空间分辨力的各种因素,采用一组轴棱锥对USEDCARS系统中的泵浦激光进行环状光束整形,并通过调节轴棱锥之间的距离获得了不同直径的环状光束,在此基础上,建立了空间分辨可调USEDCARS诊断系统。开展了空间分辨力分析实验,获得了CARS信号强度随空间位置的分布数据,以CARS信号总强度95%包含的空间区域代表CARS的纵向空间分辨力,以此计算得到了CARS系统空间分辨力为1.7～6.5 mm连续可调。其中,高分辨力情况,达到了现有BOXCARS技术的空间分辨力。利用所建立的空间分辨可调USEDCARS诊断系统测量了酒精/空气预混火焰温度参数,获得了不同空间分辨条件下的CARS光谱。空间分辨力为1.7 mm时,获得了高质量CARS光谱,通过光谱拟合给出了所测火焰的温度信息。分辨力分别为4.9和6.5 mm时获得了较强的CARS信号,但存在光谱畸变。结果显示,空间分辨力对CARS信号的强度和空间平均效应有很大地影响,提高测量的空间分辨力可以有效消除空间平均效应,获得准确的CARS光谱,增强光谱拟合精度,同时空间分辨可调的特性使该系统能够更好地适应不同实验条件下的诊断工作。     

Tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy – an interlaboratory reproducibility and comparison study

Since its first experimental realization, tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) has emerged as a potentially powerful nanochemical analysis tool. However, questions about the comparability and reproducibility of TERS data have emerged. This interlaboratory comparison study addresses these issues by bringing together different TERS groups to perform TERS measurements on nominally identical samples. Based on the spectra obtained, the absolute and relative peak positions, number of bands, peak intensity ratios, and comparability to reference Raman and surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) data are discussed. Our general findings are that all research groups obtained similar spectral patterns, irrespective of the setup or tip that was used. The TERS (and SERS) spectra consistently showed fewer bands than the conventional Raman spectrum. When comparing these three methods, the spectral pattern match and substance identification is readily possible. Absolute and relative peak positions of the three major signals of thiophenol scattered by 19 and 9 cm⁻¹, respectively, which can probably be attributed to different spectrometer calibrations. However, within the same group (but between different tips), the signals only scattered by 3 cm⁻¹ on average. This study demonstrated the suitability of TERS as an analytical tool and brings TERS a big step forward to becoming a routine technique. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Input Power Conditions for Distributed Fiber Optic Temperature Sensors in Raman Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry

The critical power of the input pulse in which spontaneous Raman scattering is not seriously disturbed by stimulated Raman scattering in a fiber optic temperature sensor has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The critical power determines the critical distance, which is nearly equal to the distance where optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) signal of the stimulated Raman scattering becomes maximum. From this fact, a new method to determine the critical input power with the OTDR system has been proposed, which may be applicable to most distributed fiber optic temperature sensors. It has been determined that the critical power of the input pulse is 4 watts for an infinitely long silica fiber.Presented at the International Commission of Optics Topical Meeting, Kyoto, 1994.