Graphene-Based Enhanced Raman Scattering toward Analytical Applications

Due to the single-molecule sensitivity and the capability of chemical fingerprints recognition, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been an attractive analytical technique used in various fields. However, SERS sensing still suffers from several problems, including the heterogeneous adsorption of molecules on SERS substrates, the spectral fluctuation of molecules, the photo/chemical reactions of molecules in direct contact with metal, and the continuum spectral background originated from fluorescence or photocarbonization. Such problems greatly hinder its practical applications, in particular, in SERS quantification. Graphene, the star of the two-dimensional (2D) materials family, can be used for Raman enhancement, termed as graphene-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (G-SERS). In this review, we will introduce the discovery of graphene-enhanced Raman scattering (GERS), the chemical enhancement, and its extension to other 2D materials beyond graphene. Then we will concentrate on graphene-based SERS toward analytical applications—from graphene-veiled SERS to G-SERS tape for quantitative analysis.