Lateral resolution of nanoscaled images delivered by surface-analytical instruments: application of the BAM-L200 certified reference material and related ISO standards.

The certified reference material BAM-L200, a nanoscale stripe pattern for length calibration and specification of lateral resolution, is described. BAM-L200 is prepared from a cross-sectioned epitaxially grown layer stack of AlxGa1-xAs and InxGa1-xAs on a GaAs substrate. The surface of BAM-L200 provides a flat pattern with stripe widths ranging down to 1 nm.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering with silver nanostructures generated in situ in a sporopollenin biopolymer matrix.

Silver nanoparticles were generated based on citrate reduction in the ultrastructure of the sporopollenin biopolymer of Ambrosia artemisiifolia (ragweed) and Secale cereale (rye). The nanoparticles enable the acquisition of SERS spectra and thereby a vibrational characterization of the local molecular structure of sporopollenin.