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The optimisation of facile substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering through galvanic replacement of silver onto copper

It is important in many areas to detect and identify minute quantities of materials. Application areas extend from healthcare to security and from environmental protection to biochemistry. Surface enhanced Raman allows the detection of chemical compounds in diminutive quantities, down to a single molecule. However, the realisation of this high sensitivity is a very challenging task for everyday field analysis. Joining expertise from three universities we have found and verified a simple method to create substrates for surface enhanced Raman and demonstrated high and stable sensitivity. Discussions are under way to use the method for industrial applications.