Metal coated nanocrystalline silicon as an active surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- a) providing a crystalline porous substrate having a metal-coated contact surface;
b) exposing the contact surface to a sample comprising one or more analytes so as to capture the analytes on the contact surface of the substrate; and
c) using laser excitation and spectroscopy to detect and/or identify one or more of the analytes.
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Abstract
The methods and apparatus 300 disclosed herein concern Raman spectroscopy using metal coated nanocrystalline porous silicon substrates 240, 340. In certain embodiments of the invention, porous silicon substrates 110, 210 may be formed by anodic etching in dilute hydrofluoric acid 150. A thin coating of a Raman active metal, such as gold or silver, may be coated onto the porous silicon 110, 210 by cathodic electromigration or any known technique. The metal-coated substrate 240, 340 provides an extensive, metal rich environment for SERS, SERRS, hyper-Raman and/or CARS Raman spectroscopy. In certain embodiments of the invention, metal nanoparticles may be added to the metal-coated substrate 240, 340 to further enhance the Raman signals. Raman spectroscopy may be used to detect, identify and/or quantify a wide variety of analytes, using the disclosed methods and apparatus 300.
108 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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a) providing a crystalline porous substrate having a metal-coated contact surface;
b) exposing the contact surface to a sample comprising one or more analytes so as to capture the analytes on the contact surface of the substrate; and
c) using laser excitation and spectroscopy to detect and/or identify one or more of the analytes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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a) a nanocrystalline porous silicon substrate having an upper porous surface coated with a metal;
b) a laser;
c) a Raman detector; and
d) a spectrometer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification