Recent advances in surface-enhanced raman spectroscopy (SERS): Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for SERS and sensing applications

There have been significant advancements in the field of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Despite being an ultra-sensitive analytical technique, challenges, such as how to get a proper match between the SERS substrate and light for better signal enhancement to obtain a stable, sensitive SERS substrate, prevent its widespread applications. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, a numerical tool for modeling computational electrodynamics, has recently been used to investigate SERS for understanding the underlying physics, and optimally design and fabricate SERS substrates for molecular analysis. In this review, we summarize the trend of using FDTD method in SERS studies by providing an introduction of fundamental principles, the studies of optical responses, electromagnetic (EM) field distribution, enhancement factor (EF) of SERS, the application in design and fabrication of SERS substrates, and SERS for biosensing and environmental analysis. Finally, the critical issues of using inherently approximate FDTD method and future improvement for solving EM problems and SERS applications are discussed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.