US Patent 7342656 - Enhanced raman spectroscopy using adjustable nanoparticle distance

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Raman spectroscopy uses energy shifts from reflected monochromatic (laser) light to characterize various materials and when combined with silver and gold nanoparticle colloids for the specimen can produce highly sensitive results for individual molecule detection in what is called Nano-enhanced raman spectroscopy (NERS). This patent teaches using an electrostatically driven cantilever or piezoelectric member to adjust the spacing between nanoparticles to facilitate NERS tuning. Claim 1 reads:

1. A NERS-active structure comprising: a first nanoparticle comprising a NERS-active material; a second nanoparticle comprising a NERS-active material, the second nanoparticle being disposed proximate the first nanoparticle and separated from the first nanoparticle by a distance; and a deflectable, active nanoparticle support structure for supporting the first nanoparticle and the second nanoparticle, the deflectable, active nanoparticle support structure being configured to vary the distance between the first nanoparticle and the second nanoparticle while performing NERS.