US Patent 7727776 - Nanoparticles with 3D nanopore structure

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7727786.html

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy is one of the more popular applications of metallic nanoparticles for high sensitivity environmental sensing. This patent from Honeywell teaches a variation of SERS using nanoporous nanoparticles. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanoparticle detection system comprising:

at least one nanoparticle selected from the group consisting of silver, gold and copper, the nanoparticle having 3D intrinsic nanopore structures; and

a self assembly monolayer shell of organic molecules situated around the nanoparticle,

wherein the molecules are SERS reporters; and wherein the nanoparticle provides an enhanced surface for Raman scattering (SERS).