Raman scattering enhancement using crystallographic surface of a colloidalcrystal

Deposition of coinage metals on a crystallographic surface of a colloidal c rystal is proposed with the aim of fabricating metal surfaces with a regula r relief on a scale of 200-300 nm to get strong surface-enhanced Raman scat tering (SERS). The approach is implemented through thin gold-film depositio n on a surface of a crystal consisting of silica globules. Mitoxantrone mol ecules, a DNA intercalator, were used to prove high SERS efficiency of the structures proposed. As compared to other SERS-active substrates, metal-die lectric colloidal crystal structures possess well-defined surface parameter s (globule diameter and film thickness), high stability and reproducibility . These advantages are important for systematic analysis of SERS mechanisms in mesoscopic structures and its application in single-molecule detection. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka / Interperiodica".