Tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) microscopy is an advanced technique for investigation at the nanoscale that provides topographic and chemical information simultaneously. The TERS probe plays a crucial role in the microscopic performance. In the recent past, the development of silver nanowire (AgNW) based TERS probes solved the main tip fabrication issues, such as low mechanical strength and reproducibility. However, this fabrication method still suffers from low control of the protruded length of the AgNW. In this work, a simple water-air interface electrocutting method is proposed to achieve wide controllability of the length. This water cutting method was combined with a succedent Au coating on the AgNW surface, and the probe achieved an up to 100× higher enhancement factor (EF) and a 2× smaller spatial resolution compared to pristine AgNW. Thanks to this excellent EF, the water-cut Au-coated AgNW probes were found to possess high TERS activity even in the nongap mode, enabling broad applications.
Keywords: TERS; high enhancement factor; high spatial resolution; length control; nongap mode; silver nanowire.