Klarite substrates from Renishaw Diagnostics provide a unique solution for analysing and identifying chemical compounds through Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) for applications in life & analytical science research. The main advantage of this new technology is high sensitivity detection and analysis. Klarite SERS substrates are widely used for academic and industrial applications and the Company is seeking commercial partners to further exploit the benefits of the technology for applications in biopharmaceutical manufacturing clean up, biothreat and forensics.
Raman analysis yields a unique fingerprint spectrum from which both compositional and structural information can be attained. SERS provides a technique that can increase these normally weak Raman signals by over 1 million (106) times.
The unique design of Klarite substrates allows reproducible enhancement of the Raman signal so it may be used in everyday chemical analysis for a wide range of applications, from medical diagnosis and drug discovery to forensics and homeland security. The substrates are available as slide mounted or single chip dependent on your application.
The substrates themselves consist of a silicon surface, systematically designed with a nanometre scale pattern, which is then coated in gold. Made of regular arrangements of holes, the surface patterns form photonic crystals that control the surface plasmons that govern the Raman enhancement process. Using Renishaw Diagnostics experience in photonic crystal design, Klarite substrates enable the control of surface plasmon effects and therefore control of the Raman amplification for enhanced detection sensitivity enabling new applications.
Volume manufacturing procedures from the semiconductor industry enable large amounts of reproducible SERS substrates to be produced, making Klarite the substrate of choice for a growing range of analytical applications.
