  Nanofibers functionalized by metal nanostructures and particles are exploited
as effective flexible substrates for SERS analysis. Their complex
three-dimensional structure may provide Raman signals enhanced by orders of
magnitude compared to untextured surfaces. Understanding the origin of such
improved performances is therefore very important for pushing nanofiber-based
analytical technologies to their upper limit. Here we report on polymer
nanofiber mats which can be exploited as substrates for enhancing the Raman
spectra of adsorbed probe molecules. The increased surface area and the
scattering of light in the nanofibrous system are individually analyzed as
mechanisms to enhance Raman scattering. The deposition of gold nanorods on the
fibers further amplifies Raman signals due to SERS. This study suggests that
Raman signals can be finely tuned in intensity and effectively enhanced in
nanofiber mats and arrays by properly tailoring the architecture, composition,
and light-scattering properties of the complex networks of filaments.
