Prof. Zhong-Qun Tian discovered shell‐isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) make SERS can be preserved longer than 2 years.

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) allows ppm levels of trace to be detected by Raman spectroscopy instrument. In 1974, SERS of gold, silver and copper can enhance Raman signal up to 106, novel materials used for SERS like graphene, semiconductors and quantum dots has greatly enhance Raman emission up to 1010. Graphene oxide is used particularly suitable to biological application. For instance, a new variant of SERS developed by a group at Jackson State University in MIssissippi, U.S., uses a hybrid probe composed of graphene oxide to a gold nanoparticles to detect ultrasensitive sensing of DNA characteristics of HIV.

SERS has been applied to Raman spectroscopy applications of trace analysis of materials such as explosives residues, evidence at crime scenes, chemical warfare agents and pesticides. SERS boost the biological analysis application like diagnose disease like cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, HIV etc.