Advances of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) in electrochemistry, biochemistry, and surface science

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is a unique spectroscopic technique that possesses single-molecule sensitivity and high spatial resolution. Both of these properties are due to 1) extremely high confinement of an electromagnetic field at the apex of the scanning probe and 2) precise positioning of the scanning probe at the surface of the analyzed specimen. The scanning probe can easily be withdrawn from the analyzed surface after spectral acquisition, which makes this analytic technique minimally invasive. The substrate generality of TERS has already been utilized to investigate various challenging topics in biology and surface chemistry, such as detecting cytochrome c oxidation in mitochondria, monitoring catalytic reactions, and imaging polymer surfaces. In this review, the most recent advances in applying TERS for structural characterization of biomolecules, electrochemical processes at the nanoscale level, art conservation and surface sciences are discussed. These studies highlight the growth of TERS as a powerful analytical technique with far reaching practical implications.