An extremely sensitive sensor that opens up new ways of detecting a wide range of substances, such as cancer and hidden explosives, has been invented by researchers at Princeton University, United States. The sensor is the most sensitive of its kind to date, and uses a major advance in Raman scattering to identify various substances. Raman scattering is a phenomena in which faint signals generated by the scattering of laser light from the materials placed on it allow the identification of various substances based on the color of light they reflect. According to Stephen Y. Chou, a professor of electrical engineering who led the research team, “Raman scattering has enormous potential in biological and chemical sensing, and could have many applications in industry, medicine, the military and other fields. But current Raman sensors are so weak that their use has been very limited outside of research. We’ve developed a way to significantly enhance the signal over the entire sensor and that could change the landscape of how Raman scattering can be used.” Chou’s team uses plasmonic nanodots to enhance the Raman signal. The new sensor chip, in addition to being far more sensitive than its predecessors, can also be manufactured inexpensively in large quantities, due to its easy-to-build nature and a new combination of two powerful nanofabrication technologies. “This is a very powerful method to identify molecules,” Chou said. “The combination of a sensor that enhances signals far beyond what was previously possible, that’s uniform in its sensitivity and that’s easy to mass produce could change the landscape of sensor technology and what’s possible with sensing.” The article can be viewed online at the link below.