Large area substrate for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) using glass-drawing technique

1. A method of making an array of large area substrates, comprising:

drawing a plurality of tubes to form a plurality of drawn tubes;

cutting the plurality of drawn tubes into cut drawn tubes, each cut drawn tube having a first end and a second end along the longitudinal direction of the respective cut drawn tube, the cut drawn tubes collectively having a first predetermined periodicity;

forming a plurality of surface features on the first ends of the plurality of cut drawn tubes;

forming a first metal layer on the first ends of the cut drawn tubes to provide a first large area substrate, the plurality of surface features on the first ends having a first aspect ratio;

repeating the above steps to provide a second large area substrate having a second predetermined periodicity, a second metal layer on the first ends of the cut drawn tubes, and a plurality of surface features on the first ends of the cut drawn tubes having a second aspect ratio, at least one of the second predetermined periodicity, the second metal layer and the second aspect ratio of the second large area substrate being different from the respective first predetermined periodicity, first metal layer and first aspect ratio of the first large area substrate; and

bundling the first and second large area substrates to provide an array of large area substrates.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the plurality of surface features comprises etching the first ends of the plurality of cut drawn tubes.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the tubes are composite glass tubes each comprising a glass rod and a core disposed inside of the glass rod, wherein the glass rod has an etchability different from that of the core.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the size of the plurality of surface features is sufficient such that each large area substrate with the plurality of surface features is adapted for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming each metal layer comprises coating the first end of the cut drawn tubes with a metal.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

bundling the plurality of tubes before drawing.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the bundling, drawing, and cutting steps are repeated at least once during the formation of each large area substrate.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each metal layer comprises a metal selected from a group consisting of gold, silver, aluminum, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each metal is gold.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein each metal layer is discontinuous.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein each metal layer comprises metal nanoparticles.

12. An array of large area substrates, comprising:

a first large area substrate comprising a plurality of bundled drawn tubes each having a first end and a second end along the longitudinal direction of the bundled drawn tubes, the bundled drawn tubes collectively having a first predetermined periodicity, the first ends of the plurality of bundled drawn tubes having a plurality of protrusive surface features, the protrusive surface features having a first aspect ratio; and a first metal layer disposed on the plurality of protrusive surface features; and

a second large area substrate comprising a plurality of bundled drawn tubes each having a first end and a second end along the longitudinal direction of the bundled drawn tubes, the bundled drawn tubes collectively having a second predetermined periodicity, the first ends of the plurality of bundled drawn tubes having a plurality of protrusive surface features, the protrusive surface features having a second aspect ratio; and a second metal layer disposed on the plurality of protrusive surface features,

the first and second large area substrates being bundled together, at least one of the second predetermined periodicity, the second metal layer and the second aspect ratio of the second large area substrate being different from the respective first predetermined periodicity, first metal layer and first aspect ratio of the first large area substrate.

13. The array of claim 12 , wherein the size of the plurality of protrusive surface features is sufficient such that each large area substrate with the plurality of protrusive surface features is adapted for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

14. The array of claim 12 , wherein the thickness of each metal layer is about 10 nm or less.

15. The array of claim 12 , wherein the protrusive surface features are substantially uniform in size and shape.

16. The array of claim 12 , wherein each metal layer comprises a metal selected from a group consisting of gold, silver, aluminum, and combinations thereof.

17. The array of claim 16 , wherein each metal is gold.

18. The array of claim 12 , wherein each metal layer comprises metal nanoparticles.

19. A method for detecting a plurality of analytes, comprising:

providing an array of large area substrates, the array comprising

a first large area substrate comprising a plurality of bundled drawn tubes each having a first end and a second end along the longitudinal direction of the bundled drawn tubes, the bundled drawn tubes collectively having a first predetermined periodicity, the first ends of the plurality of bundled drawn tubes having a plurality of protrusive surface features, the protrusive surface features having a first aspect ratio; and a first metal layer disposed on the plurality of protrusive surface features; and

a second large area substrate comprising a plurality of bundled drawn tubes each having a first end and a second end along the longitudinal direction of the bundled drawn tubes, the bundled drawn tubes collectively having a second predetermined periodicity, the first ends of the plurality of bundled drawn tubes having a plurality of protrusive surface features, the protrusive surface features having a second aspect ratio; and a second metal layer disposed on the plurality of protrusive surface features,

the first and second large area substrates being bundled together, at least one of the second predetermined periodicity, the second metal layer and the second aspect ratio of the second large area substrate being different from the respective first predetermined periodicity, first metal layer and first aspect ratio of the first large area substrate; and

contacting the array of large area substrates with a plurality of analytes.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein each large area substrate is customized to detect one of the plurality of analytes.