Plasmon-induced heating effect in surface enhanced raman scattering

Abstract

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) discovered some 30 years ago has gained popularity as a powerful analytical tool for developing chemo- and bio-sensing. The combination of SERS with the microfluidics technology can provide a miniaturized and portable device for bio-fluid analysis. However, as will be pointed out in this study, heat generated in a SERS-active substrate as a result of laser-induced plasmon resonance can unfavorably affect the sensitivity of a SERS-based microfluidic device. We will show that the plasmon-induced heat associated with SERS can significantly reduce the signal strength from the analyte under certain circumstances, and show heat-induced morphological changes in the SERS-active substrate as a primary cause of the observed signal changes. This study indicates that sufficient heat dissipation is crucial for the proper working of a SERS-based microfluidic device.