Surface enhanced Raman scattering of light by inorganic microcrystals

Approximately 102-fold enhancement of Raman scattering by ultramarine microcrystals is reported through their interaction with silver nanoparticles in films and powders. Theoretical modeling predicts 1010-fold enhancement in the close vicinity of a silver spherical nanoparticle (0.24 nm) with a rapid decay of the enhancement factor to 1 in the range of approximately 50 nm. The experimental enhancement factor is treated as the overall effect within a small portion of each microcrystal in the close vicinity of silver nanoparticle(s). (authors)