Patent ID: 8462333
Filing Date: 2013-06-11
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for performing surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), said apparatus comprising: a substrate; a plurality of flexible nano-fingers, each of the plurality of nano-fingers having a first end attached to the substrate, a free second end, and a body portion extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the plurality of nano-fingers are arranged in an array on the substrate; and an active material layer disposed on each of the second ends of the plurality of nano-fingers, wherein the plurality of nano-fingers are to be in a substantially collapsed state in which the active layers on at least two of the nano-fingers contact each other under dominant attractive forces between the plurality of nano-fingers and wherein the active material layers are configured to repel each other when the active material layers are electrostatically charged.