Surface enhanced Raman scattering in an amorphous matrix for Raman amplification

In order to improve the efficiency of Raman Amplifiers, the Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) effect of an amorphous matrix of TiO2 was studied. First, optimisation of the amorphous layer quality was performed by depositing thin films on glass substrates at different temperatures. Then, thin films of amorphous TiO2 were deposited on silicon commercial gold SERS substrates (Klarite (R)) by a dip-coating process. The SERS effect was demonstrated by the great difference of Raman intensities of the amorphous TiO2 matrix dip-coated on active and inactive parts of Klarite (R) substrate under 633 nm and 780 nm laser excitations in the tail of the Surface Plasmon Resonance band of gold nanoparticles. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.