On the chemical mechanism of surface enhanced Raman scattering: Experiment and theory

We have investigated the chemical mechanism of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on an atomically smooth metal surface using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and molecular spectroscopy simulations. The EEL spectra of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) adsorbed on Cu(100) and Cu(111) are reported. Simulations of the surface-enhanced Raman spectra and electron energy loss spectra (EELS) of pyromellitic dianhydride adsorbed on Cu(100) and Cu(111) are reported. The surface enhanced Raman spectra [J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. 92, 4775 (1996)] and the EEL spectra are shown to be sensitive to crystal face. The relevant excited state observed in the EEL spectrum is not intrinsic to molecular PMDA, but results from chemisorption. The Raman spectra are sensitive to the incident laser polarization on both the (100) and (111) surfaces but in different ways. These observations are shown to be a result of the excited state potential energy surface having different shape, and the respective transition dipole...