Expanding Vibrational Nanoscopy in Electrolytic Environments

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is a nanoscale analytical technique that combines Raman spectroscopy with scanning probe microscopy to obtain chemical information with spatial resolution down to a few nanometers.^1,2 Because the enhancement occurs only at the tip apex, TERS can achieve spatial resolution far beyond the diffraction limit of conventional Raman spectroscopy.^1,2 Some of the main advantages of using TERS include nanometer-scale spatial resolution (often 10–20 nm or better), single-molecule sensitivity in some cases, provides both topographical and chemical information simultaneously, and enables analysis of surfaces, interfaces, and nanomaterials.^1,2

Naihao Chiang, an assistant professor at the University of Houston, leads a laboratory group at the university where they work with this technique in conjunction with scanning ion-conductance microscopy (SICM). Chiang’s laboratory group investigates plasmonic-enhanced near-field optical techniques to study the fundamental light–matter interactions at the quantum limit and apply these insights to emerging technologies.^3–5 Using custom-built, laser-coupled scanning probe microscopes, the researchers investigate chemical and biological processes at solid–liquid interfaces through TERS.^3–5

As part of our coverage of Pittcon 2026, which took place in San Antonio, Texas, we sat down with Naihao Chiang to talk about his research. In the first clip of our conversation with Chiang, we asked him for his thoughts about the Pittcon conference. Chiang commented on the quality of the technical sessions and positively remarked about the venue where the conference was held.

In the second video clip of our conversation with Chiang, he discusses how he came to integrate TERS with SCIM and how SICM-TERS expands the capabilities of vibrational nanoscopy in electrolytic environments.

Spectroscopy will be continuing to provide coverage of the Pittcon 2026 conference on an ongoing basis as we report back from San Antonio. You can stay up to date with our coverage of the Pittcon 2026 conference here.

References

1. Hoppener, C.; Aizpurua, J.; Chen, H. et al. Tip-enhanced Raman Scattering. Nat. Rev. Methods Prim. 2024, 4, 47. DOI: 10.1038/s43586-024-00323-5
2. Horiba, What is Tip Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy? Horiba.com. Available at: https://www.horiba.com/int/scientific/technologies/afm-raman/what-is-tip-enhanced-raman-spectroscopy/ (accessed 2026-03-13).
3. University of Houston, Chiang Research Group. UH.edu. Available at: http://chiang.chem.uh.edu/research.html (accessed 2026-03-13).
4. He, X.; Scarabelli, L.; Chiang, N. Construction of a Scanning Ion-Conductance Microscope for Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy. Anal. Chem. 2025, 97 (30), 16098. DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5c02986
5. He, X.; Tareq, A. M.; Qi, K. et al. High-Resolution Distance Dependence Interrogation of Scanning Ion-Conductance Microscopic Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Enabled by Two-Dimensional Molybdenum Disulfide Substrates. Nano Lett. 2024, 24 (43), 13805. DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c04200