Electric field generating apparatus for performing spectroscopy

An apparatus for performing spectroscopy, said system comprising:

• a substrate having a surface;
• a plurality of surface-enhanced spectroscopy (SES) apparatuses positioned on the surface, each of the plurality of SES apparatuses including,
• a plurality of SES elements positioned substantially along a first plane on the surface of the substrate;
• a first electrode positioned adjacent to the plurality of SES elements substantially along the first plane;
• and
• a second electrode positioned adjacent to the plurality of SES elements substantially along the first plane and on a side of the plurality of SES elements that is opposite the first electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are to generate an electric field around the plurality of SES elements when voltages are applied through the first electrode and the second electrode.

A method for using an apparatus for performing spectroscopy, said comprising:

• ionizing or polarizing a plurality of target particles in a fluid flow, wherein the fluid flow is to be directed over the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of surface-enhanced spectroscopy (SES) elements positioned substantially along a first plane of a substrate, a first electrode positioned adjacent to the plurality of SES elements substantially along the first plane, and a second electrode positioned adjacent to the plurality of SES elements substantially along the first plane and on a side of the plurality of SES elements that is opposite the first electrode;
• applying a voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode to generate an electric field over the plurality of SES elements to steer the plurality of ionized or polarized target particles onto the plurality of SES elements;
• directing an illumination beam onto the plurality of SES elements and the ionized or polarized target particles to cause the ionized or polarized target particles to emit scattered signals;
• and
• measuring the scattered signals emitted by the ionized or polarized target particles.

A method for fabricating a spectroscopy apparatus, said method comprising:

• providing a plurality of surface-enhanced spectroscopy (SES) elements on a surface of a substrate substantially along a first plane;
• providing a first electrode adjacent to the plurality of SES elements substantially along the first plane;
• and
• providing a second electrode adjacent to the plurality of SES elements substantially along the first plane and on a side of the plurality of SES elements that is opposite the first electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are to generate an electric field around the plurality of SES elements when voltages are applied through the first electrode and the second electrode.