A simple chemical method for preparing SERS active surface was developed by etching sliver foils in concentrated HNO3 solutions. The enhancement factors were calculated to be 10(8) as compared with solution spectra. The technique was applied to investigate the self-assembly of benzyl disulfide and adsorption orientation of thiophenol on silver surfaces. The results show that the HNO3 roughened silver foil seems to be a more routinely preparable substrate system for SERS study.