Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) in the single-molecule regime: study of temporal and spectral fluctuations.

Abstract

SERS spectroscopy is in the select group of techniques that give us the possibility of exploring the properties of a single-molecule. In this very small detection limit intense temporal, spacial and spectral fluctuations can be observed, which are directly related to the most fundamental characteristics of the SERS effect. Therefore, a solid understanding of such fluctuations are extremely necessary for its consistent usage for analytical applications in such a detection limit or as a tool for the characterization of optical properties of plasmonic materials. This project aims to study the intensity and spectral fluctuations in SERS and the factors behind them, as for example the effect of interfering resonance contributions, which can be of surface plasmon nature or involving molecular and metal electronic states.