Raman spectroscopy of organic dyes adsorbed on pulsed laser deposited silver thin films

► Pulsed laser ablated Ag thin films were tested as substrates for SERS of organic dyes. ► Some dyes were detected at concentration level as low as 10−7 M in aqueous solution. ► Different chromophores, brazilin and brazilein in brazilwood, kermesic and carminic acid in carmine lake, alizarin and purpurin in garanza lake were identified. ► Higher Raman intensities were observed using the 632.8 nm excitation line, likely due to a pre-resonant effect with dye molecular electronic transitions.