Metal coated nanocrystalline silicon as an active surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate
US6970239B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 12, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 29, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 22, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/653
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.