Temporal fluctuations in the SERRS spectra of single iron-protoporphyrin IX molecule

Surface enhanced resonance Raman spectra of Fe-protoporphyrin IX, adsorbed on silver colloidal nanoparticles immobilized onto a polymer-coated glass slide have been investigated at very low concentrations. The spectra exhibit drastic temporal fluctuations on a time scale of seconds in both line frequency and intensity; such a trend suggesting that the single molecule limit is approached. Sequences of spectra have been analyzed in terms of an underlying continuum and of Raman peaks superimposed on this continuum. A statistical analysis of the spectrum intensity has allowed us to put into evidence that main contribution to the intensity fluctuations arises from the continuum. In addition, a high correlation between the total integrated intensity and the intensity detected at different Raman peaks has been revealed. Furthermore, the ratio between the intensity detected in correspondence of different FePP vibrational modes shows a temporal variability likely reflecting the intrinsic dynamics of the molecule. All these findings have been ascribed to a desorption-adsorption mechanism of the molecules at the silver surface. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.