Ultrafast dynamics of surface-enhanced Raman scattering due to Au nanostructures

Nano Lett. 2011 Jul 13;11(7):2648-54. doi: 10.1021/nl200667t. Epub 2011 May 23.

Abstract

Ultrafast dynamics of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was investigated at cleaved graphite surfaces bearing deposited gold (Au) nanostructures (∼10 nm in diameter) by using sensitive pump-probe reflectivity spectroscopy with ultrashort (7.5 fs) laser pulses. We observed enhancement of phonon amplitudes (C═C stretching modes) in the femtosecond time domain, considered to be due to the enhanced electromagnetic (EM) field around the Au nanostructures. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations confirmed the EM enhancement. The enhancement causes drastic increase of coherent D-mode (40 THz) phonon amplitude and nanostructure-dependent changes in the amplitude and dephasing time of coherent G-mode (47 THz) phonons. This methodology should be suitable to study the basic mechanism of SERS and may also find application in nanofabrication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Graphite / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Gold
  • Graphite