Fibre-optic SERS sensors with angled tips

Abstract Angled polishing of the tips of fibre-optic SERS sensors results in an additional enhancement of SERS intensities by factors of 3–20 for different tip coatings. The optimum tip angle depended on the type of coating and was found between 40 and 60°. The largest additional enhancement was observed for silver films on smoothly ground fibre tips, whereas the largest SERS intensity was produced by 40° angled tips with silver films over alumina particles.