A novel approach for time-resolved (TR) surface-enhanced (resonance) Raman (SE(R)R) spectroscopy is presented for probing potential-dependent processes of molecules adsorbed on a silver electrode. TR SE(R)R spectroscopy offers the unique advantage of providing structural and kinetic data exclusively of the adsorbed species and their reactions. These processes are initiated by a rapid potential jump and monitored by SE(R)R spectroscopy after a delay time δ for the probe interval Δ t. The synchronization is achieved by a mechanical chopper that triggers the potential jump via a photodiode and gates the exciting continuous-wave laser beam. After the probe event, the potential is reset to its initial value. Thus, the original equilibrium is restored to allow a continuous repetition of the sequence of potential jumps and probe events. During the entire experiment, the detection system, a liquid nitrogen-cooled charge-coupled device (CCD) detector, is active so that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be iteratively improved. This mode of detection does not limit the time resolution, so that the present approach allows TR SE(R)R experiments down to the microsecond time scale without lowering the SNR. The possibilities and limitations of this method are discussed. As an example we present preliminary results of a TR SERR study on yeast iso-1 cytochrome c (Cyt- c) adsorbed on a Ag electrode by applying a potential jump from −0.4 V to +0.05 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode). The experiments are carried out with a rotating electrode to avoid photoinduced degradation and desorption processes. The SERR spectra, which were measured with delay times between 45 to 175 ms, were analyzed quantitively in terms of the various states of the adsorbed Cyt- c that are formed in this potential range. The results show that under these conditions the relaxation processes include the electron transfer of the adsorbed Cyt- c to the electrode and a subsequent conformational transition. The analysis of the data reveals a heterogenous oxidation rate constant of 10.3 s ⁻¹ and rate constant for the conformational transition of 4.3 s ⁻¹ , supporting the view that the biological electron transfer of Cyt- c is coupled with conformational transitions.

In this study we present a device based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for the detection of airborne explosives. The explosives are resublimated on a cooled nanostructured gold substrate. The explosives trinitrotoluene (TNT) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP) are used. The SERS spectrum of the explosives is analyzed. Thus, TNT is deposited from an acetonitrile solution on the gold substrate. In the case of TATP, first the bulk TATP Raman spectrum was recorded and compared with the SERS spectrum, generated by deposition out of the gas phase. The frequencies of the SERS spectrum are hardly shifted compared to the spectrum of bulk TATP. The influence of the nanostructured gold substrate temperature on the signals of TATP was studied. A decrease in temperature up to $200\mathrm{K}$ increased the intensities of the TATP bands in the SERS spectrum; below $200\mathrm{K}$, the TATP fingerprint disappeared.