Synthesis of graphene-based materials for surface-enhanced raman scattering applications

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy provides a meaningful fingerprint for sensing and discriminating materials, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) can dramatically increase Raman signals up to the single-molecule level of sensitivity. Graphene, a monolayer carbon sheet, has recently attracted considerable attention as a unique SERS substrate. However, there are various types of graphene materials, and the SERS application category is significantly correlated to the structure and quality of the graphene. This review provides a broad perspective on this research area, intended for researchers of diverse fields. First, we categorize the graphene-based SERS applications based on their structure. Second, we introduce the types of graphene (graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, chemical vapor deposited graphene, and carbon nanowalls) and their synthesis methods. Thereafter, we highlight state-of-the-art studies for each category of graphene-based SERS.