Nanoscale chemical imaging using tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Confocal and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are powerful techniques for molecular characterization; however, they suffer from the drawback of diffraction-limited spatial resolution. Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) overcomes this limitation and provides chemical information at leng...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature protocols Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. 1169 - 1193
Main Authors: Kumar, Naresh, Weckhuysen, Bert M, Wain, Andrew J, Pollard, Andrew J
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01.04.2019
Subjects:
Adipocytes - ultrastructure
Animals
Atomic force microscopy
Biological properties
Biological samples
Cell Line
Chemical analysis
Data processing
Equipment Design - methods
Graphene
Humans
Imaging
Mice
Microscopy, Atomic Force - instrumentation
Microscopy, Atomic Force - methods
Molecular Imaging - instrumentation
Molecular Imaging - methods
Nanotechnology
Nanotubes
Organic chemistry
Polymer films
Polymers
Probes
Raman spectroscopy
Self-assembled monolayers
Self-assembly
Single wall carbon nanotubes
Spatial resolution
Spectroscopy
Spectrum analysis
Spectrum Analysis, Raman - instrumentation
Spectrum Analysis, Raman - methods
Substrates
Thin films
ISSN:1754-2189, 1750-2799, 1750-2799
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Confocal and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are powerful techniques for molecular characterization; however, they suffer from the drawback of diffraction-limited spatial resolution. Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) overcomes this limitation and provides chemical information at length scales in the tens of nanometers. In contrast to alternative approaches to nanoscale chemical analysis, TERS is label free, is non-destructive, and can be performed in both air and liquid environments, allowing its use in a diverse range of applications. Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based TERS is especially versatile, as it can be applied to a broad range of samples on various substrates. Despite its advantages, widespread uptake of this technique for nanoscale chemical imaging has been inhibited by various experimental challenges, such as limited lifetime, and the low stability and yield of TERS probes. This protocol details procedures that will enable researchers to reliably perform TERS imaging using a transmission-mode AFM-TERS configuration on both biological and non-biological samples. The procedure consists of four stages: (i) preparation of plasmonically active TERS probes; (ii) alignment of the TERS system; (iii) experimental procedures for nanoscale imaging using TERS; and (iv) TERS data processing. We provide procedures and example data for a range of different sample types, including polymer thin films, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of organic molecules, photocatalyst surfaces, small molecules within biological cells, single-layer graphene and single-walled carbon nanotubes in both air and water. With this protocol, TERS probes can be prepared within ~23 h, and each subsequent TERS experimental procedure requires 3-5 h.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 14
content type line 23
ISSN:1754-2189
1750-2799
1750-2799
DOI:10.1038/s41596-019-0132-z