About this Research Topic

Background

The discovery of the phenomenon called surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in 1974 was a pivotal moment for Raman spectroscopy, which for many decades had suffered from low sensitivity under conventional measurement conditions. Fortunately, a giant enhancement of Raman signal is observed for the molecules in the proximity of a nanostructured metal (especially Ag and Au).

Since that time, SERS spectroscopy has experienced enormous evolution and emerged as a powerful tool for detection and complex analysis, due to its ultrahigh sensitivity and simplicity of both label-free and multivalent targeting action.

This Research Topic aims to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive summary on the synthesis, properties, and sensing applications of innovative substrates for SERS spectroscopy, with particular emphasis on stimuli-responsive, multifunctional, and intelligent nanomaterials. We hope to highlight recent advances in the design of novel nanomaterials and ordered nanostructures as substrates for SERS spectroscopy applications. Preparation and characterization will be presented, alongside applications in chemical sensing and biology-related studies.

Wet-chemistry, physical, biology-inspired, and other methods leading to the fabrication of sensitive SERS platforms for improved performance and detection are welcome. Special attention will be given to multifunctional composite or hybrid nanomaterials, like those combining plasmonic and magnetic properties, composed of graphene oxide and SERS-active nanoparticles, core-shell, or coated (e.g., with SiO2) nanostructures. Evaluation of the optical properties and surface enhancement factor will be of particular interest, both for colloidal nanoparticles and 2D nanostructured arrays.

This should allow coverage of such topics as tailoring structural and optical properties of nanostructures and their use in (bio)sensing, SERS imaging and medical diagnosis; development of new plasmonic/magnetic nanostructures, applications of new materials for shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS), and graphene-mediated SERS, etc.

The resulting outline of the recent advancements in the field of SERS-active nanostructures with new attractive characteristics and their novel applications should be of particular use to the scientific community for identifying areas relevant for their future research.

This Research Topic welcomes both Reviews and Original Research papers, discussing properties and applications of novel nanomaterials for SERS-based chemical and biological sensing, concerning analyte detection, quantitative analysis, imaging, or disease diagnosis. Reviews must provide a critical and up-to-date overview, or discuss present trends and future opportunities and challenges for the fabrication of SERS-active materials/substrates and its (bio)chemical sensing applications. This includes, but is not limited to:

 • Design, characterization and evaluation of new SERS-active materials, offering improved parameters of SERS signal and/or additional functions to sensing properties
 • Comparison between theoretical simulations, analytical solutions and laboratory experiments for the proposed SERS sensing platforms
 • Integration of developed nanostructures into complex sensors for identification and quantification in bio(chemical) systems
 • Biological imaging, disease diagnosis and theranostic applications of SERS spectroscopy

We would like to acknowledge Dr Piotr Piotrowski and Marcin Witkowski, who have acted as coordinators and have contributed to the preparation of the proposal for this Research Topic.

Topic editor Christa Brosseau declares one active patent: EP2773958A1. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.

Keywords: SERS-active materials, Surface-enhaced Raman Scattering, Raman Spectroscopy, SHINERS

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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