Probing the structure of single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman scattering hot spots

We present here a detailed study of the specific nanoparticle structures that give rise to single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SMSERS). A variety of structures are observed, but the simplest are dimers of Ag nanocrystals. We chose one of these structures for detailed study using electrodynamics calculations and found that the electromagnetic SERS enhancement factors of 10(9) are easily obtained and are consistent with single-molecule SERS activity.