Optics and photonics in nature: general discussion

‘When is a hotspot a good nanospot’ – review of analytical and hotspot-dominated surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy nanoplatforms

“…The approach has recently found use in the characterization of natural photonic crystals. 101,102 In a SERS context, it may be useful where either the characteristics of nanostructures (geometry, pitch) can vary significantly over the SERS-active region 103 and inter-structure electromagnetic independence or interaction is important. 104 While precise characterization of truly nanometric surface asperities is difficult, SEM can elucidate areas of larger-scale roughness, for instance, regions around nanostructure bases where metallization is less conformal, roughened arborescent caps on erect structures, 40 or grainy surface formations, 105 and which may transform an analytical SERS platform into one of more HSD-type.…”