Deep-UV surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering of adenine on aluminum nanoparticle arrays

J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Feb 1;134(4):1966-9. doi: 10.1021/ja210446w. Epub 2012 Jan 19.

Abstract

We report the ultrasensitive detection of adenine using deep-UV surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering on aluminum nanostructures. Well-defined Al nanoparticle arrays fabricated over large areas using extreme-UV interference lithography exhibited sharp and tunable plasmon resonances in the UV and deep-UV wavelength ranges. Theoretical modeling based on the finite-difference time-domain method was used to understand the near-field and far-field optical properties of the nanoparticle arrays. Raman measurements were performed on adenine molecules coated uniformly on the Al nanoparticle arrays at a laser excitation wavelength of 257.2 nm. With this technique, less than 10 amol of label-free adenine molecules could be detected reproducibly in real time. Zeptomole (~30,000 molecules) detection sensitivity was readily achieved proving that deep-UV surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering is an extremely sensitive tool for the detection of biomolecules.

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / chemistry*
  • Aluminum / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Particle Size
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • Surface Properties
  • Ultraviolet Rays*

Substances

  • Aluminum
  • Adenine