Patent ID: 7528948
Filing Date: 2009-05-05
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for facilitating surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), comprising: a SERS-active structure near which a plurality of analyte molecules are disposed; and an actuation device in actuable communication with the SERS-active structure to deform the SERS-active structure while said analyte molecules are disposed therenear, said deformation of the SERS-active structure varying an intensity of radiation Raman-scattered from the analyte molecules, wherein said actuation device deforms the SERS-active structure by varying at least one of a surface concavity and surface convexity thereof in a vicinity of the analyte molecules, and said SERS-active structure comprising a plurality of nanosections of SERS-active material geometrically arranged upon a plurality of nanostructures, wherein said nanostructures are configured and dimensioned such that relatively small variations in said at least one of the surface concavity and surface convexity perturb said geometric arrangement of said nanosections of SERS-active material by an amount sufficient to vary a plurality of hot-spot conditions across said SERS-active structure and thereby vary said intensity of radiation Raman-scattered from the analyte molecules.