PhD thesis supervisor: dr. Martynas Talaikis (apply for recommendation)
Development and application of UV-SERRS substrates for low-molecular-weight biomolecule analysis
Ultraviolet surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (UV-SERRS) enables selective detection of aromatic and other UV-active low-molecular-weight biomolecules through electronic resonance. Compared with visible or near-infrared excitation, UV excitation typically provides a lower fluorescence background, improving spectral clarity. However, wider use of UV-SERRS remains constrained by the limited availability of substrates that are stable, reproducible, and photochemically robust under ultraviolet irradiation.
The aim of this doctoral project is to develop, optimize, and systematically benchmark UV-active plasmonic substrates for reliable UV-SERRS measurements. The work will focus on nanoparticle-based plasmonic surfaces and metal-coated nanostructured substrates. Their nanoscale morphology, oxide chemistry, and ultraviolet optical response will be correlated with UV-SERRS enhancement, stability, and reproducibility. This approach will establish substrate design rules linking material composition, nanostructure, and surface chemistry to quantitative UV-SERRS performance.
The developed substrates will be applied to the UV-SERRS analysis of low-molecular-weight biomolecules in model and biochemically relevant environments to assess sensitivity, selectivity, and analytical robustness. The project will deliver a validated materials and methodology framework that advances UV-SERRS toward a transferable, quantitative platform for bioanalytical spectroscopy.