A SERS fiber probe fabricated by layer-by-layer assembly of silver sphere nanoparticles and nanorods with a greatly enhanced sensitivity for remote sensing.

Remote sensing remains a challenge due to its demand for high sensitivity, convenient sampling and rapid response time. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is a powerful analytical method for the detection of various samples. Here, aiming at increasing the sensitivity, a novel strategy for the preparation of a SERS probe is demonstrated by using hollow optical fiber tips decorated by layer-by-layer assembly of two kinds of nanoparticles.