Abstract

I describe an easy-to-use model for estimating the electromagnetic enhancements of Raman scattering from molecules adsorbed onto overlayers on metal particles. The model is valid quantitatively in the limit of low adsorbate coverage and small-particle sizes. It can be used by experimenters to obtain a qualitative estimate of the effect of overlayers and spacers on metal-island film resonances and Raman scattering from adsorbates on the overlayers. The model is evaluated for gold, nickel, nonabsorbing dielectric, and gold- and nickel-cluster overlayers on silver islands, using an effective-medium approximation for the dielectric constant of the cluster overlayer.

© 1985 Optical Society of America

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) by molecules adsorbed at spherical particles

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