Patent ID: 7388661

Claim:
A NERS-active structure comprising: a plurality of protrusions extending from a surface of a substrate, the plurality of protrusions comprising a first protrusion and a second protrusion; and a Raman signal-enhancing material disposed on at least one surface of the first protrusion and at least one surface of the second protrusion, the Raman signal-enhancing material disposed on the first protrusion projecting laterally in a direction generally towards the second protrusion, the Raman signal-enhancing material disposed on the second protrusion projecting laterally in a direction generally towards the first protrusion, at least a portion of the Raman signal-enhancing material projecting from the first protrusion and at least a portion of the Raman signal-enhancing material projecting from the second protrusion being separated by a distance of less than about 10 nanometers.