Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: From concepts to practical applications

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is a powerful technique that integrates the vibrational fingerprinting of Raman spectroscopy and the sub-nanometer resolution of scanning probe microscopy (SPM). As a result, TERS is capable of obtaining chemical maps of analyzed specimens with exceptional lateral resolution. This is extremely valuable for the study of interactions between molecules and substrates, in addition to structural characterization of biological objects, such as viruses and amyloid fibrils, 2D polymeric materials, and monitoring electrochemical and photo-catalytic processes. In this mini review, we discuss the most significant advances of TERS, including: super high resolution chemical imaging, monitoring of catalytic processes, incorporation of pulsed-excitation techniques, single-site electrochemistry, biosensing, and art conservation. We begin with a short overview of TERS, comparing it with other surface analytical techniques, followed by an overview of recent developments and future applications in TERS. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.