% Encoding: UTF-8 @COMMENT{BibTeX export based on data in FAU CRIS: https://cris.fau.de/} @COMMENT{For any questions please write to cris-support@fau.de} @article{faucris.109717784, abstract = {Reproducible and enhanced optical detection of molecules in low concentrations demands simultaneously intense and homogeneous electric fields acting as robust signal amplifiers. To generate such sophisticated optical near-fields, different plasmonic nanostructures were investigated in recent years. These, however, exhibit either high enhancement factor (EF) or spatial homogeneity but not both. Small interparticle gaps or sharp nanostructures show enormous EFs but no near-field homogeneity. Meanwhile, approaches using rounded and separated monomers create uniform near-fields with moderate EFs. Here, guided by numerical simulations, we show how arrays of weakly-coupled Ag nanohelices achieve both homogeneous and strong near-field enhancements, reaching even the limit forreproducible detection of individual molecules. The unique near-field distribution of a single nanohelix consists of broad hot-spots, merging with those from neighbouring nanohelices in specific array configurations and generating a wide and uniform detection zone (“hot-volume”). We experimentally assessed these nanostructures via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, obtaining a corresponding EF of ~107 and a relative standard deviation <10%. These values demonstrate arrays of nanohelices as state-of-the-art substrates for reproducible optical detection as well as compelling nanostructures for related fields such as near-field imaging.}, author = {Caridad, Jose M. and Winters, Sinead and McCloskey, David and Duesberg, Georg S. and Donegan, John F. and Krstic, Vojislav}, doi = {10.1038/srep45548}, faupublication = {yes}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, keywords = {Electronics, photonics and device physics; Materials for optics; Nanoscale materials; Optical materials and structures}, peerreviewed = {Yes}, title = {{Hot} volumes for highly enhanced and reproducible {SERS} detection in weakly-coupled metallic nanohelices}, volume = {7}, year = {2017} }