Variable-Temperature Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of Single-Molecule Fluctuations and Dynamics

Real-Time Monitoring of a Single Molecule in Sub-nanometer Space by Dynamic Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

In biology and chemistry, the ultimate goal is to monitor single molecules without labels. However, long-term monitoring of label-free molecules remains a challenge. Here, on the basis of the photothermal effect of gold nanorods (GNRs), we developed a platform for monitoring of a single molecule employing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Laser re-irradiation forms 1.0 nm gaps between GNRs, allowing us to observe single crystal violet (CV) molecules blinking for up to 4 min with dynamic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (D-SERS). Bianalyte experiments confirm single-molecule features at CV concentrations of 10-14 M. Combining density functional theory (DFT) calculations with a free CV molecule observed in millisecond D-SERS, we propose that CV molecules can be confined to sub-nanometer space and the orientation of an individual CV moving in the range of 50-90° can be dynamically captured by D-SERS. This will provide a novel idea for effective exploration of the temporal and spatial dynamic processes of different reactions.

Giant optomechanical spring effect in plasmonic nano- and picocavities probed by surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Molecular vibrations couple to visible light only weakly, have small mutual interactions, and hence are often ignored for non-linear optics. Here we show the extreme confinement provided by plasmonic nano- and pico-cavities can sufficiently enhance optomechanical coupling so that intense laser illumination drastically softens the molecular bonds. This optomechanical pumping regime produces strong distortions of the Raman vibrational spectrum related to giant vibrational frequency shifts from an optical spring effect which is hundred-fold larger than in traditional cavities. The theoretical simulations accounting for the multimodal nanocavity response and near-field-induced collective phonon interactions are consistent with the experimentally-observed non-linear behavior exhibited in the Raman spectra of nanoparticle-on-mirror constructs illuminated by ultrafast laser pulses. Further, we show indications that plasmonic picocavities allow us to access the optical spring effect in single molecules with continuous illumination. Driving the collective phonon in the nanocavity paves the way to control reversible bond softening, as well as irreversible chemistry.

Antenna-coupled infrared nanospectroscopy of intramolecular vibrational interaction

Many photonic and electronic molecular properties, as well as chemical and biochemical reactivities are controlled by fast intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR). This fundamental ultrafast process limits coherence time in applications from photochemistry to single quantum level control. While time-resolved multidimensional IR-spectroscopy can resolve the underlying vibrational interaction dynamics, as a nonlinear optical technique it has been challenging to extend its sensitivity to probe small molecular ensembles, achieve nanoscale spatial resolution, and control intramolecular dynamics. Here, we demonstrate a concept how mode-selective coupling of vibrational resonances to IR nanoantennas can reveal intramolecular vibrational energy transfer. In time-resolved infrared vibrational nanospectroscopy, we measure the Purcell-enhanced decrease of vibrational lifetimes of molecular vibrations while tuning the IR nanoantenna across coupled vibrations. At the example of a Re-carbonyl complex monolayer, we derive an IVR rate of (25±8) cm-1 corresponding to (450±150) fs, as is typical for the fast initial equilibration between symmetric and antisymmetric carbonyl vibrations. We model the enhancement of the cross-vibrational relaxation based on intrinsic intramolecular coupling and extrinsic antenna-enhanced vibrational energy relaxation. The model further suggests an anti-Purcell effect based on antenna and laser-field-driven vibrational mode interference which can counteract IVR-induced relaxation. Nanooptical spectroscopy of antenna-coupled vibrational dynamics thus provides for an approach to probe intramolecular vibrational dynamics with a perspective for vibrational coherent control of small molecular ensembles.

Conformational heterogeneity of molecules physisorbed on a gold surface at room temperature

A quantitative single-molecule tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) study at room temperature remained a challenge due to the rapid structural dynamics of molecules exposed to air. Here, we demonstrate the hyperspectral TERS imaging of single or a few brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) molecules at room temperature, along with quantitative spectral analyses. Robust chemical imaging is enabled by the freeze-frame approach using a thin Al₂O₃ capping layer, which suppresses spectral diffusions and inhibits chemical reactions and contamination in air. For the molecules resolved spatially in the TERS image, a clear Raman peak variation up to 7.5 cm⁻¹ is observed, which cannot be found in molecular ensembles. From density functional theory-based quantitative analyses of the varied TERS peaks, we reveal the conformational heterogeneity at the single-molecule level. This work provides a facile way to investigate the single-molecule properties in interacting media, expanding the scope of single-molecule vibrational spectroscopy studies.

Tip-enhanced vibrational spectroscopy at room temperature is complicated by molecular conformational dynamics, photobleaching, contaminations, and chemical reactions in air. This study demonstrates that a sub-nm protective layer of Al₂O₃ provides robust conditions for probing single-molecule conformations.

Single-Molecule Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SM-SERS) has the potential to detect single molecules in a non-invasive, label-free manner with high-throughput. SM-SERS can detect chemical information of single molecules without statistical averaging and has wide application in chemical analysis, nanoelectronics, biochemical sensing, etc. Recently, a series of unprecedented advances have been realized in science and application by SM-SERS, which has attracted the interest of various fields. In this review, we first elucidate the key concepts of SM-SERS, including enhancement factor (EF), spectral fluctuation, and experimental evidence of single-molecule events. Next, we systematically discuss advanced implementations of SM-SERS, including substrates with ultra-high EF and reproducibility, strategies to improve the probability of molecules being localized in hotspots, and nonmetallic and hybrid substrates. Then, several examples for the application of SM-SERS are proposed, including catalysis, nanoelectronics, and sensing. Finally, we summarize the challenges and future of SM-SERS. We hope this literature review will inspire the interest of researchers in more fields.

Theoretical Study on the Ultrafast Selective Excitation of Surface-Enhanced Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering Based on Fano Resonance of Disk-Ring Nanostructures by Shaped Femtosecond Laser Pulses

The enhancement and selective excitation of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and the suppression of background noise are very important problems for real-time detection at the single-molecule level. Optimizing the plasmonic substrate to ensure that all the hot spots of the pump, probe, Stokes, and anti-Stokes light are at the same position is the key to increasing the CARS signal to reach the level of single-molecule detection. The selective excitation of the target CARS peak and the suppression of the other peaks are the key to improving the signal-to-noise ratio. In this paper, we present a theoretical study to control the selective excitation and enhancement of any one of the three CARS peaks using the Fano resonance of a disk-ring structure. By optimizing the modulation of the pump, Stokes, and probe pulse, one CARS peak is maximized, while the other two are suppressed to zero. Fano resonance is applied to simultaneously enhance the four surface plasmon modes of the pump, probe, Stokes, and anti-Stokes light and to ensure that all the hot spots are located at the same position by adjusting the size of the disk-ring structure. The hot spots of the four pulses are concentrated in the disk-ring gap with a deviation distance of less than 2 nm, and the intensity of the CARS is enhanced by 1.43 × 1012 times, which is much higher than the requirement of single-molecule detection. The time, frequency, and phase distribution of the input and the response of the four pulses are studied in detail. It was found that the selective excitation and the spectra of CARS are both well preserved.

A Closer Look at Tip-Enhanced Raman Chemical Reaction Nanoimages

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is a powerful technique that enables ultrahigh spatial resolution and ultrasensitive chemical imaging. This technique's ability to track plasmon-induced/enhanced chemical reactions in real space has gained increasing popularity in recent years. In this study, we expose inherent difficulties associated with assigning TERS signatures that accompany chemical transformations. Namely, distinct selection rules as well as the possibility of multiple physical processes/chemical reaction pathways complicate spectral assignments and necessitate caution in assigning the experimental observables. We illustrate the latter using 4,4'-dimercaptostilbene-functionalized plasmonic silver nanocubes, wherein we identify the TERS signatures of product formation, molecular charging, multipolar Raman scattering, and preferred molecular orientations that all lead to distinct and assignable spectral patterns.

Molecular vibrational imaging at nanoscale

The demand to visualize the spatial distribution of chemical species based on vibrational spectra is rapidly increasing. Driven by such a need, various Raman and infrared spectro-microscopies with a nanometric spatial resolution have been developed over the last two decades. Despite rapid progress, a large gap still exists between the general needs and what these techniques can achieve. This Perspective highlights the key challenges and recent breakthroughs of the two vibrational nano-imaging techniques, scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy and tip-enhanced Raman scattering.

Adaptive tip-enhanced nano-spectroscopy

Tip-enhanced nano-spectroscopy, such as tip-enhanced photoluminescence (TEPL) and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), generally suffers from inconsistent signal enhancement and difficulty in polarization-resolved measurement. To address this problem, we present adaptive tip-enhanced nano-spectroscopy optimizing the nano-optical vector-field at the tip apex. Specifically, we demonstrate dynamic wavefront shaping of the excitation field to effectively couple light to the tip and adaptively control for enhanced sensitivity and polarization-controlled TEPL and TERS. Employing a sequence feedback algorithm, we achieve ~4.4 × 10⁴-fold TEPL enhancement of a WSe₂ monolayer which is >2× larger than the normal TEPL intensity without wavefront shaping. In addition, with dynamical near-field polarization control in TERS, we demonstrate the investigation of conformational heterogeneity of brilliant cresyl blue molecules and the controllable observation of IR-active modes due to a large gradient field effect. Adaptive tip-enhanced nano-spectroscopy thus provides for a systematic approach towards computational nanoscopy making optical nano-imaging more robust and widely deployable.

Tip-enhanced nano-spectroscopy suffers from inconsistent signal and difficulty in polarization-resolved measurement. Here, the authors present adaptive tip-enhanced nano-spectroscopy, which enables the additional signal enhancement and near-field polarization control via dynamic wavefront shaping.

Raman Detection of Bond Breaking and Making of a Chemisorbed Up-Standing Single Molecule at Single-Bond Level

Probing bond breaking and making as well as related structural changes at the single-molecule level is of paramount importance for understanding the mechanism of chemical reactions. In this work, we report in situ tracking of bond breaking and making of an up-standing melamine molecule chemisorbed on Cu(100) by subnanometer resolved tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS). We demonstrate a vertical detection depth of about 4 Å with spectral sensitivity at the single chemical-bond level, which allows us not only to justify the up-standing configuration involving a dehydrogenation process at the bottom upon chemisorption, but also to specify the breaking of top N-H bonds and the transformation to its tautomer during photon-induced hydrogen transfer reactions. Our results indicate the chemical and structural sensitivity of TERS for single-molecule recognition beyond flat-lying planar molecules, providing new opportunities for probing the microscopic mechanism of molecular adsorption and surface reactions at the chemical-bond level.

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for nanoscale probing of dynamic chemical systems

Dynamics are fundamental to all aspects of chemistry and play a central role in the mechanism and product distribution of a chemical reaction. All dynamic processes are influenced by the local environment, so it is of fundamental and practical value to understand the structure of the environment and the dynamics with nanoscale resolution. Most techniques for measuring dynamic processes have microscopic spatial resolution and can only measure the average behavior of a large ensemble of sites within their sampling volumes. Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is a powerful tool for overcoming this limitation due to its combination of high chemical specificity and spatial resolution that is on the nanometer scale. Adapting it for the study of dynamic systems remains a work in progress, but the increasing sophistication of TERS is making such studies more routine, and there are now growing efforts to use TERS to examine more complex processes. This Perspective aims to promote development in this area of research by highlighting recent progress in using TERS to understand reacting and dynamic systems, ranging from simple model reactions to complex processes with practical applications. We discuss the unique challenges and opportunities that TERS presents for future studies.

The Expanding Frontiers of Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Fundamental understanding of chemistry and physical properties at the nanoscale enables the rational design of interface-based systems. Surface interactions underlie numerous technologies ranging from catalysis to organic thin films to biological systems. Since surface environments are especially prone to heterogeneity, it becomes crucial to characterize these systems with spatial resolution sufficient to localize individual active sites or defects. Spectroscopy presents as a powerful means to understand these interactions, but typical light-based techniques lack sufficient spatial resolution. This review describes the growing number of applications for the nanoscale spectroscopic technique, tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), with a focus on developments in areas that involve measurements in new environmental conditions, such as liquid, electrochemical, and ultrahigh vacuum. The expansion into unique environments enables the ability to spectroscopically define chemistry at the spatial limit. Through the confinement and enhancement of light at the apex of a plasmonic scanning probe microscopy tip, TERS is able to yield vibrational fingerprint information of molecules and materials with nanoscale resolution, providing insight into highly localized chemical effects.

The Raman Spectrum of a Single Molecule on an Electrochemically Etched Silver Tip

We recorded the Raman spectrum of a single azobenzene thiol molecule upon picking it up from an atomically flat gold surface, using an electrochemically etched silver tip, in an ultrahigh vacuum cryogenic scanning tunneling microscope. While suppressed at the junction, the stationary spectrum appeared once the molecule was transferred to the tip, with line intensities that increased by a factor of ∼5 as the tip was retracted from 1 nm to 161 nm. The effect, and the enhanced tensorial Raman spectrum was reproduced using an explicit treatment of the electromagnetic fields to identify a cis-azobenzene thiol molecule, adsorbed on a nanometric asperity removed from the tip apex, lying in the plane normal to the tip z-axis, with enhanced incident and radiative local fields polarized in the same plane. Tips decorated with asperities break the rules and give unique insights on Raman driven by cavity modes of a plasmonic junction.

Multiplexed Discrimination of Single Amino Acid Residues in Polypeptides in a Single SERS Hot Spot

The SERS-based detection of protein sequences with single-residue sensitivity suffers from signal dominance of aromatic amino acid residues and backbones, impeding detection of non-aromatic amino acid residues. Herein, we trap a gold nanoparticle in a plasmonic nanohole to generate a single SERS hot spot for single-molecule detection of 2 similar polypeptides (vasopressin and oxytocin) and 10 distinct amino acids that constitute the 2 polypeptides. Significantly, both aromatic and non-aromatic amino acids are detected and discriminated at the single-molecule level either at individual amino acid molecules or within the polypeptide chains. Correlated with molecular dynamics simulations, our results suggest that the signal dominance due to large spatial occupancy of aromatic rings of the polypeptide sidechains on gold surfaces can be overcome by the high localization of the single hot spot. The superior spectral and spatial discriminative power of our approach can be applied to single-protein analysis, fingerprinting, and sequencing.

Direct molecular-level near-field plasmon and temperature assessment in a single plasmonic hotspot

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is currently widely recognized as an essential but still emergent technique for exploring the nanoscale. However, our lack of comprehension of crucial parameters still limits its potential as a user-friendly analytical tool. The tip's surface plasmon resonance, heating due to near-field temperature rise, and spatial resolution are undoubtedly three challenging experimental parameters to unravel. However, they are also the most fundamentally relevant parameters to explore, because they ultimately influence the state of the investigated molecule and consequently the probed signal. Here we propose a straightforward and purely experimental method to access quantitative information of the plasmon resonance and near-field temperature experienced exclusively by the molecules directly contributing to the TERS signal. The detailed near-field optical response, both at the molecular level and as a function of time, is evaluated using standard TERS experimental equipment by simultaneously probing the Stokes and anti-Stokes spectral intensities. Self-assembled 16-mercaptohexadodecanoic acid monolayers covalently bond to an ultra-flat gold surface were used as a demonstrator. Observation of blinking lines in the spectra also provides crucial information on the lateral resolution and indication of atomic-scale thermally induced morphological changes of the tip during the experiment. This study provides access to unprecedented molecular-level information on physical parameters that crucially affect experiments under TERS conditions. The study thereby improves the usability of TERS in day-to-day operation. The obtained information is of central importance for any experimental plasmonic investigation and for the application of TERS in the field of nanoscale thermometry.

SERS discrimination of single DNA bases in single oligonucleotides by electro-plasmonic trapping

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensing of DNA bases by plasmonic nanopores could pave a way to novel methods for DNA analyses and new generation single-molecule sequencing platforms. The SERS discrimination of single DNA bases depends critically on the time that a DNA strand resides within the plasmonic hot spot. In fact, DNA molecules flow through the nanopores so rapidly that the SERS signals collected are not sufficient for single-molecule analysis. Here, we report an approach to control the residence time of molecules in the hot spot by an electro-plasmonic trapping effect. By directly adsorbing molecules onto a gold nanoparticle and then trapping the single nanoparticle in a plasmonic nanohole up to several minutes, we demonstrate single-molecule SERS detection of all four DNA bases as well as discrimination of single nucleobases in a single oligonucleotide. Our method can be extended easily to label-free sensing of single-molecule amino acids and proteins.

Angstrom Scale Chemical Analysis of Metal Supported Trans- and Cis-Regioisomers by Ultrahigh Vacuum Tip-Enhanced Raman Mapping

Real space chemical analysis of two structurally very similar components, that is, regioisomers lies at the heart of heterogeneous catalysis reactions, modern-age electronic devices, and various other surface related problems in surface science and nanotechnology. One of the big challenges in surface chemistry is to identify different surface adsorbed molecules and analyze their chemical properties individually. Herein, we report a topological and chemical analysis of two regioisomers, trans- and cis-tetrakispentafluorophenylporphodilactone ( trans- and cis-H₂F₂₀TPPDL) molecules by high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy, and ultrahigh vacuum tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (UHV-TERS). Both isomeric structures are investigated individually on Ag(100) at liquid nitrogen temperature. Following that, we have successfully distinguished these two regioisomeric molecules simultaneously through TERS with an angstrom scale (8 Å) spatial resolution. Also, the two-component organic heterojunction has been characterized at large scale using high-resolution two-dimensional mapping. Combined with time-dependent density functional theory simulations, we explain the TERS spectral discrepancies for both isomers in the fingerprint region.

Enhancement of the Raman Effect by Infrared Pumping

We propose a method for increasing Raman scattering from an ensemble of molecules by up to 4 orders of magnitude. Our method requires an additional coherent source of IR radiation with the half-frequency of the Stokes shift. This radiation excites the molecule electronic subsystem that in turn, via Fröhlich coupling, parametrically excites nuclear oscillations at a resonant frequency. This motion is coherent and leads to a boost of the Raman signal in comparison to the spontaneous signal because its intensity is proportional to the squared number of molecules in the illuminated volume.

Fluorescence-Encoded Infrared Spectroscopy: Ultrafast Vibrational Spectroscopy on Small Ensembles of Molecules in Solution

Fluorescence-encoded infrared (FEIR) spectroscopy is an ultrafast technique that uses a visible pulse to up-convert information about IR-driven vibrations into a fluorescent electronic population. Here we present an updated experimental approach to FEIR that achieves high sensitivity through confocal microscopy, high repetition rate excitation, and single-photon counting. We demonstrate the sensitivity of our experiment by measuring ultrafast vibrational transients and Fourier transform spectra of increasingly dilute solutions of a coumarin dye. We collect high-quality data at 40 μM (∼2 orders of magnitude below the limit for conventional IR) and make measurements down to the 10-100 nM range (∼5 orders of magnitude) before background signals become overwhelming. At 10 nM we measure the average number of molecules in the focal volume to be ∼20 using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. This level of sensitivity opens up the possibility of performing fluctuation correlation vibrational spectroscopy or-with further improvement-single-molecule measurements.

In Situ Nanoscale Redox Mapping Using Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Electrochemical atomic force microscopy tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC-AFM-TERS) was used for the first time to spatially resolve local heterogeneity in redox behavior on an electrode surface in situ and at the nanoscale. A structurally well-defined Au(111) nanoplate located on a polycrystalline ITO substrate was studied to examine nanoscale redox contrast across the two electrode materials. By monitoring the TERS intensity of adsorbed Nile Blue (NB) molecules on the electrode surface, TERS maps were acquired with different applied potentials. The EC-TERS maps showed a spatial contrast in TERS intensity between Au and ITO. TERS line scans near the edge of a 20 nm-thick Au nanoplate demonstrated a spatial resolution of 81 nm under an applied potential of -0.1 V vs Ag/AgCl. The intensities from the TERS maps at various applied potentials followed Nernstian behavior, and a formal potential ( E^0') map was constructed by fitting the TERS intensity at each pixel to the Nernst equation. Clear nanoscale spatial contrast between the Au and ITO regions was observed in the E^0' map. In addition, statistical analysis of the E^0' map identified a statistically significant 4 mV difference in E^0' on Au vs ITO. Electrochemical heterogeneity was also evident in the E^0' distribution, as a bimodal distribution was observed in E^0' on polycrystalline ITO, but not on gold. A direct comparison between an AFM friction image and the E^0' map resolved the electrochemical behavior of individual ITO grains with a spatial resolution of ∼40 nm. The variation in E^0' was attributed to different local surface charges on the ITO grains. Such site-specific electrochemical information with nanoscale spatial and few mV voltage resolutions is not available using ensemble spectroelectrochemical methods. We expect that in situ redox mapping at the nanoscale using EC-AFM-TERS will have a crucial impact on understanding the role of nanoscale surface features in applications such as electrocatalysis.

Unveiling Defect-Related Raman Mode of Monolayer WS2 via Tip-Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering

Monolayer tungsten disulfide (WS₂) has emerged as an active material for optoelectronic devices due to its quantum yield of photoluminescence. Despite the enormous research about physical characteristics of monolayer WS₂, the defect-related Raman scattering has been rarely studied. Here, we report the correlation of topography and Raman scattering in monolayer WS₂ by using tip-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy and reveal defect-related Raman modes denoted as D and D' modes. We found that the sulfur vacancies introduce not only the red-shifted A_1g mode but also the D and D' modes by the density functional theory calculations. The observed defect-related Raman modes can be utilized to evaluate the quality of monolayer WS₂ and will be helpful to improve the performance of WS₂ optoelectronic devices.

Time Domain Simulations of Single Molecule Raman Scattering

Nonequilibrium chemical phenomena are known to play an important role in single molecule microscopy and spectroscopy. Herein, we explore these effects through ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD)-based Raman spectral simulations. We target an isolated aromatic thiol (thiobenzonitrile, TBN) as a prototypical molecular system. We first show that the essential features contained in the ensemble-averaged Raman spectrum of TBN can be reproduced by averaging over 18 short AIMD trajectories spanning a total simulation time of ∼60 ps. This involved more than 90 000 polarizability calculations at the B3LYP/def2-TZVP level of theory. We then illustrate that the short trajectories (∼3.3 ps total simulation time), where the accessible phase space is not fully sampled, provide a starting point for understanding key features that are often observed in measurements targeting single molecules. Our results suggest that a complete understanding of single molecule Raman scattering needs to account for molecular conformational flexibility and nonequilibrium chemical phenomena in addition to local optical fields and modified selection rules. The former effects are well-captured using the described AIMD-based single molecule Raman spectral simulations.

Nanoscale Optical Microscopy and Spectroscopy Using Near-Field Probes

Light-matter interactions can provide a wealth of detailed information about the structural, electronic, optical, and chemical properties of materials through various excitation and scattering processes that occur over different length, energy, and timescales. Unfortunately, the wavelike nature of light limits the achievable spatial resolution for interrogation and imaging of materials to roughly λ/2 because of diffraction. Scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) breaks this diffraction limit by coupling light to nanostructures that are specifically designed to manipulate, enhance, and/or extract optical signals from very small regions of space. Progress in the SNOM field over the past 30 years has led to the development of many methods to optically characterize materials at lateral spatial resolutions well below 100 nm. We review these exciting developments and demonstrate how SNOM is truly extending optical imaging and spectroscopy to the nanoscale.

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy - from early developments to recent advances

An analytical technique operating at the nanoscale must be flexible regarding variable experimental conditions while ideally also being highly specific, extremely sensitive, and spatially confined. In this respect, tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) has been demonstrated to be ideally suited to, e.g., elucidating chemical reaction mechanisms, determining the distribution of components and identifying and localizing specific molecular structures at the nanometre scale. TERS combines the specificity of Raman spectroscopy with the high spatial resolution of scanning probe microscopies by utilizing plasmonic nanostructures to confine the incident electromagnetic field and increase it by many orders of magnitude. Consequently, molecular structure information in the optical near field that is inaccessible to other optical microscopy methods can be obtained. In this general review, the development of this still-young technique, from early experiments to recent achievements concerning inorganic, organic, and biological materials, is addressed. Accordingly, the technical developments necessary for stable and reliable AFM- and STM-based TERS experiments, together with the specific properties of the instruments under different conditions, are reviewed. The review also highlights selected experiments illustrating the capabilities of this emerging technique, the number of users of which has steadily increased since its inception in 2000. Finally, an assessment of the frontiers and new concepts of TERS, which aim towards rendering it a general and widely applicable technique that combines the highest possible lateral resolution and extreme sensitivity, is provided.

Theoretical study on narrow Fano resonance of nanocrescent for the label-free detection of single molecules and single nanoparticles

This paper reports a narrow Fano resonance of 3D nanocrescent and its application in the label-free detection of single molecules. The Fano resonance depends not only on the gap size but also on the height. The Fano resonance originates from the interference between the quadrupolar mode supported by the horizontal crescent and the dipolar mode along the nanotip. When the height of 3D nanocrescent is 30 nm, the width of Fano resonance is as narrow as 10 nm. The narrow linewidth is caused by the strong narrow resonant absorption coming from the dipolar mode of nanotip overlapping with the quadrupolar mode of nanocrescent, where the absorption spectra are calculated under a horizontal incident light. The narrow Fano resonance is highly sensitive to a single nanoparticle trapped by the nanocrescent. The wavelength shift increases linearly with the refractive index with the relation of Δλ = 22.10n - 28.80, and increases with the size of trapped nanoparticle following a relation of Δλ = 0.826 × r 1.672. These results indicate that if a protein nanoparticle with radius of 2.5 nm is trapped by the nanocrescent, the shift is as large as 4.03 nm.

Probing Intermolecular Vibrational Symmetry Breaking in Self-Assembled Monolayers with Ultrahigh Vacuum Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Ultrahigh vacuum tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (UHV-TERS) combines the atomic-scale imaging capability of scanning probe microscopy with the single-molecule chemical sensitivity and structural specificity of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Here, we use these techniques in combination with theory to reveal insights into the influence of intermolecular interactions on the vibrational spectra of a N-N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDI) self-assembled monolayer adsorbed on single-crystal Ag substrates at room temperature. In particular, we have revealed the lifting of a vibrational degeneracy of a mode of PDI on Ag(111) and Ag(100) surfaces, with the most strongly perturbed mode being that associated with the largest vibrational amplitude on the periphery of the molecule. This work demonstrates that UHV-TERS enables direct measurement of molecule-molecule interaction at nanoscale. We anticipate that this information will advance the fundamental understanding of the most important effect of intermolecular interactions on the vibrational modes of surface-bound molecules.

Ultrafast Microscopy: Imaging Light with Photoelectrons on the Nano-Femto Scale

Experimental methods for ultrafast microscopy are advancing rapidly. Promising methods combine ultrafast laser excitation with electron-based imaging or rely on super-resolution optical techniques to enable probing of matter on the nano-femto scale. Among several actively developed methods, ultrafast time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy provides several advantages, among which the foremost are that time resolution is limited only by the laser source and it is immediately capable of probing of coherent phenomena in solid-state materials and surfaces. Here we present recent progress in interference imaging of plasmonic phenomena in metal nanostructures enabled by combining a broadly tunable femtosecond laser excitation source with a low-energy electron microscope.

Nanoscale Chemical Imaging of Interfacial Monolayers by Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

We report an investigation of interfacial fluorinated hydrocarbon (carboxylic-fantrip) monolayers by nanoscale imaging using tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By comparing TERS images of a sub-monolayer prepared by spin-coating and a π-π-stacked monolayer on Au(111) in which the molecular orientation is confined, specific Raman peaks shift and line widths narrow in the transferred LB monolayer. Based on DFT calculations that take into account dispersion corrections and surface selection rules, these specific effects are proposed to originate from π-π stacking and molecular orientation restriction. TERS shows the possibility to distinguish between a random and locked orientation with a spatial resolution of less than 10 nm. This work combines experimental TERS imaging with theoretical DFT calculations and opens up the possibility of studying molecular orientations and intermolecular interaction at the nanoscale and molecular level.

Nonequilibrium Chemical Effects in Single-Molecule SERS Revealed by Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Recent developments in nanophotonics have paved the way for achieving significant advances in the realm of single-molecule chemical detection, imaging, and dynamics. In particular, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique that is now routinely used to identify the chemical identity of single molecules. Understanding how nanoscale physical and chemical processes affect single-molecule SERS spectra and selection rules is a challenging task and is still actively debated. Herein, we explore underappreciated chemical phenomena in ultrasensitive SERS. We observe a fluctuating excited electronic state manifold, governed by the conformational dynamics of a molecule (4,4'-dimercaptostilbene, DMS) interacting with a metallic cluster (Ag₂₀). This affects our simulated single-molecule SERS spectra; the time trajectories of a molecule interacting with its unique local environment dictates the relative intensities of the observable Raman-active vibrational states. Ab initio molecular dynamics of a model Ag₂₀-DMS system are used to illustrate both concepts in light of recent experimental results.

Ultraphotostable Mesoporous Silica-Coated Gap-Enhanced Raman Tags (GERTs) for High-Speed Bioimaging

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) tags can be utilized as optical labeling nanoprobes similar to fluorescent dyes and quantum dots for bioimaging with additional advantages of fingerprint vibrational signals as unique optical codes and ultranarrow line widths for multiplexing. However, the development of the SERS imaging technique is much less well-established compared to the devlopment of fluorescence imaging mainly because of speed limitations. An effective strategy for improving the SERS imaging speed and simultaneously maintaining the photostability of SERS tags has not, to the best of our knowledge, been reported. In this work, mesoporous silica- (MS-) coated gap-enhanced Raman tags (GERTs) were designed with built-in Raman reporters for off-resonance near-infrared laser excitation and reduced photothermal effects, leading to ultraphotostability during laser irradiation. Additionally, they achieve large amplification of Raman signals by combining the chemical (CHEM) and electromagnetic (EM) enhancement effects due to the subnanometer core-shell junction, so SERS imaging can be performed in a dramatically reduced duration. With these unique structural and optical advantages, MS GERTs exhibit high storage, pH, serum, and photostabilities; strong Raman enhancements; and favorable biocompatibility. Therefore, MS GERTs achieve long-term cell imaging that can last for 30 min without being photobleached and also maintain decent imaging effects. Furthermore, MS GERTs enable continuous and stable imaging in living tissues for more than 30 min. With these advantages, MS GERTs might potentially have more biomedical applications.

Probing Bilayer Grain Boundaries in Large-Area Graphene with Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

The bilayer grain boundaries (GBs) in chemical-vapor-deposition-grown large-area graphene are identified using multispectral tip-enhanced Raman imaging with 18 nm spatial resolution. The misorientation angle of the bilayer GBs is determined from a quantitative analysis of the phonon-scattering properties associated with the modified electronic structure.

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for surfaces and interfaces

TERS offers the high spatial resolution to establish structure-function correlation for surfaces and interfaces.

Mastering high resolution tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: towards a shift of perception

Recent years have seen tremendous improvement of our understanding of high resolution reachable in TERS experiments, forcing us to re-evaluate our understanding of the intrinsic limits of this field, but also exposing several inconsistencies.

Conformational Contrast of Surface-Mediated Molecular Switches Yields Ångstrom-Scale Spatial Resolution in Ultrahigh Vacuum Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) combines the ability of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to resolve atomic-scale surface features with the single-molecule chemical sensitivity of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Here, we report additional insights into the nature of the conformational dynamics of a free-base porphyrin at room temperature adsorbed on a metal surface. We have interrogated the conformational switch between two metastable surface-mediated isomers of meso-tetrakis(3,5-ditertiarybutylphenyl)-porphyrin (H₂TBPP) on a Cu(111) surface. At room temperature, the barrier between the porphyrin ring buckled up/down conformations of the H₂TBPP-Cu(111) system is easily overcome, and a 2.6 Å lateral resolution by simultaneous TERS and STM analysis is achieved under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. This work demonstrates the first UHV-TERS on Cu(111) and shows TERS can unambiguously distinguish the conformational differences between neighboring molecules with Ångstrom-scale spatial resolution, thereby establishing it as a leading method for the study of metal-adsorbate interactions.

Single-Molecule Chemistry with Surface- and Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Single-molecule (SM) surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) have emerged as analytical techniques for characterizing molecular systems in nanoscale environments. SERS and TERS use plasmonically enhanced Raman scattering to characterize the chemical information on single molecules. Additionally, TERS can image single molecules with subnanometer spatial resolution. In this review, we cover the development and history of SERS and TERS, including the concept of SERS hot spots and the plasmonic nanostructures necessary for SM detection, the past and current methodologies for verifying SMSERS, and investigations into understanding the signal heterogeneities observed with SMSERS. Moving on to TERS, we cover tip fabrication and the physical origins of the subnanometer spatial resolution. Then, we highlight recent advances of SMSERS and TERS in fields such as electrochemistry, catalysis, and SM electronics, which all benefit from the vibrational characterization of single molecules. SMSERS and TERS provide new insights on molecular behavior that would otherwise be obscured in an ensemble-averaged measurement.

Nanoscale Chemical Imaging of a Dynamic Molecular Phase Boundary with Ultrahigh Vacuum Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Nanoscale chemical imaging of a dynamic molecular phase boundary has broad implications for a range of problems in catalysis, surface science, and molecular electronics. While scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is commonly used to study molecular phase boundaries, its information content can be severely compromised by surface diffusion, irregular packing, or three-dimensional adsorbate geometry. Here, we demonstrate the simultaneous chemical and structural analysis of N-N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1,7-(4'-t-butylphenoxy)perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PPDI) molecules by UHV tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Both condensed and diffusing domains of PPDI coexist on Ag(100) at room temperature. Through comparison with time-dependent density functional theory simulations, we unravel the orientation of PPDI molecules at the dynamic molecular domain boundary with unprecedented ∼4 nm spatial resolution.