Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a vibrational spectroscopy technique with sensitivity down to the single molecule level that provides fine molecular fingerprints, allowing for direct identification of target analytes.

This review comprehensively presents the fifty-year journey of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), covering its discovery, pivotal phases, innovative methods, and key inspirations from the pioneers and trailblazers.

This feature article discusses developmental bottleneck issues in surface Raman spectroscopy in its early stages and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in the past four decades and future perspectives.