Patent ID: 8390805

Claim:
A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy system, comprising: a chamber configured to have a predetermined species introduced thereto; a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate contained in the chamber, the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate having nano-features on a surface thereof; first and second electrodes positioned to enhance an electric field at a predetermined portion of the nano-features when a voltage bias is applied between the first and second electrodes, the first electrode facing the nano-features and being transparent to light within a spectrum of wavelengths and the second electrode being proximate to a surface of the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate that is opposed to the surface having the nano-features thereon; a laser source configured to emit light within the spectrum of wavelengths through a transparent wall of the chamber and toward the predetermined species on or near the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate; a set of filters positioned adjacent to the transparent wall of the chamber to be in optical communication with light scattered after the laser light interacts with the predetermined species, each of the filters in the set being respectively configured to pass scattered light within a different predetermined narrow band of wavelengths; and a plurality of photodetectors, each photodetector being positioned adjacent to a respective one of the filters in the set and being configured to output a signal if the scattered light passes through the respective one of the filters; wherein the set of filters is targeted for detection of characteristic peaks of the predetermined species.