Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of chemical vapor deposited diamond films

By using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy it was possible to clearly identify very thin diamond and amorphous carbon coatings which were not detectable by normal Raman spectroscopy. A very small amount of silver was sputtered onto the surface of thin diamond depositions. Raman spectra measured through the silver layer exhibited the 1332 cm−1 diamond line and broadbands due to other forms of carbon. Raman scattering measured through silver coatings directly on the silicon substrate revealed extremely thin layers of amorphous carbon.