Regensburg 2010 – scientific programme

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DS: Fachverband Dünne Schichten

DS 43: Biomolecular and Functional Organic Layers II (Focused Session)

DS 43.1: Topical Talk

Friday, March 26, 2010, 11:15–11:45, H2

High resolution studies of bio-molecules using TERS — •Volker Deckert — Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Deutschland — Institut für Photonische Technologien, Jena, Deutschland

Tip enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) is an adaption of the well established surface enhanced Raman spetroscopy (SERS) technique. TERS combines in a unique way the high sensitivity related to the field enhancing properties of SERS and the high lateral resolution capabilities of scanning probe microscopy, in particular near-field optical microscopy and allows a lateral resolution far beyond the Abbe limit.

With respect to the analysis of biomolecules, the aspect of a label-free sequencing of nucleic acid or amino acid based polymers is probably the most intriguing. TERS investigations of nano crystals of single nucleobases already proved the possibility to distinguish between the four bases and has recently been applied onto a single RNA strand. A further challenge is the application towards peptide characterization for this purpose special gold and silver substrates have been developed that allow the immobilization of the substrates without interfering with the signal intensities. Nevertheless, at first glance comparison with standard Raman and SERS experiments show an intriguing difference in the appearance of the spectra. It will be shown that this can now be readily explained by specific polarization properties of the TERS probe.