Plasmonically active micron-sized beads for integrated solid-phase synthesis and label-free SERS analysisElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: See DOI: 10.1039/c1cc13562g

Self-assembly of gold nanospheres with a very thin glass shell onto the surface of beads yields a plasmonically active micron-sized substrate for integrated solid-phase synthesis and label-free SERS analysis. The proof-of-principle of this approach is demonstrated by the vibrational spectroscopic discrimination of three distinct amino acids and a dipeptide. Self-assembly of gold nanospheres with a very thin glass shell onto the surface of beads yields a plasmonically active micronsized substrate for integrated solid-phase synthesis and label-free SERS analysis.