Scattering potentials, plasma-surface

The metallic nanocrystals are remarkable due to their localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon, that is, the excitation of surface plasma by light. It ensures these nanocrystals to be color based sensors (Homola et al., 1999 Kelly et al., 2003). The metallic nanocrystals could also sensitize the Raman signals from their adsorbed organic molecules. This surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect potentially raises the detection sensitivity to single molecule level (Kneipp et al., 1997 Nie and Emery, 1997). 

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