| Abstract | This paper investigates the fabrication of substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) using hard thermoplastic polymers in conjunction with sputtering and electroless deposition of a thin Au or Ag film. In contrast to silicon or glass, plastic materials promote the replication of nanoscale structures over large areas in a rapid and cost-effective manner using molding or embossing techniques. However, synthetic polymers are Raman-active compounds, providing a source of interference with signals arising from reporter molecules that may be used for SERS detection. Moreover, most plastics melt and undergo degradation when exposed to a focused laser beam, resulting in irreversible loss of the SERS-active metal features in the detection area. We address these issues and show that proper decoration of the plastic surface with a metal overlayer can suppress Raman background signal of the polymer substrate, as well as any adverse effect arising from laser illumination. |
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