Angle-resolved surface-enhanced Raman scattering on metallic nanostructured plasmonic crystals

Surf ace-enhanced Raman scattering is an ideal tool for identifying molecules from the fingerprint of their molecular bonds; unfortunately, this process lacks a full microscopic understanding and, practically, is plagued with irreproducibility. Using nanostructured metal surfaces, we demonstrate strong correlations between plasmon resonances and Raman enhancements. Evidence for simultaneous ingoing and outgoing resonances in wavelength and angle sheds new light on the Raman enhancement process, allowing optimization of a new generation of reproducible Raman substrates.