MA Hao, LI Lingwei, BI Xinyuan, LI Pan, BAO Yifan, WANG Xueqing, GUO Haoyu, CHEN Zhou, ZHANG Wei, WU Zongyu, LIN Li, LIU Wen, WANG Xiang, ZHANG Hua, DUAN Sai, HUANG Youju, WANG Kang, WANG Yuling, SHEN Aiguo, XIE Wei, FAN Meikun, XIAO Zeyu, YOU Hongjun, LIU Guokun, YI Jun, WU Deyin, SONG Wei, XU Shuping, XI Guangcheng, YANG Liangbao, FANG Jixiang, YE Jian, TAN Pingheng, ZHAO Bing, LI Jianfeng, REN Bin
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Since its discovery in 1974, Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) has evolved over five decades into a highly sensitive analytical technique with diverse application prospects. This review systematically summarizes key advances in enhancement mechanisms, active substrates, and technical methodologies, while outlining future developmental directions. The establishment of electromagnetic and chemical enhancement mechanisms laid the theoretical foundation for SERS, with the discovery of "hot spot" effects and development of quantitative enhancement factor evaluation systems further deepening the understanding of signal amplification principles. In terms of active substrates, research has expanded beyond noble metals like gold and silver to include transition metals, semiconductors, metal-organic frameworks, and various other material systems. The achievement of single-molecule SERS detection represents a significant breakthrough in technical sensitivity. Methodological innovations such as Shell-Isolated Nanoparticle-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SHINERS) and Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (TERS) have substantially improved the versatility and spatial resolution of SERS techniques. With the progressive standardization of performance evaluation systems and the emergence of new approaches like digital SERS, the technology is steadily advancing toward precise quantitative analysis. This review further elaborates on the broad application potential of SERS in catalysis, energy research, life sciences, clinical medicine, and food safety detection, highlighting important progress in both technical standardization and practical implementation. Looking forward, SERS research will focus on enhancing quantitative reliability, designing novel intelligent materials, integrating artificial intelligence for data interpretation, and expanding innovative applications in areas such as in vivo biological monitoring and industrial on-site detection. While challenges remain in establishing standardized databases, exploring spatiotemporal resolution limits, and developing multimodal integration technologies, SERS continues to offer vast development potential, maintaining its position at the forefront of analytical science.
