Perspective on Tailored Nanostructure‐Dominated SPP Effects for SERS

Abstract Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) excited by an incident light can normally produce strong surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) at the nanogaps among plasmonic nano‐objects (so‐called hot spots), which is extensively explored. In contrast, surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) that can be generated by an incident beam via particular structures with a conservation of wave vectors can excite SERS effects as well. SPPs actually play an indispensable role in high‐performance SERS devices but receive much less attention. In this perspective, SPPs and their couplings with LSPR for SERS excitations with differing effectiveness through particular plasmonic/dielectric structures/configurations, along with relevant fabrication approaches, are profoundly reviewed and commented on from a unique perspective from in situ to ex situ excitations of SERS enabled by spatiotemporally separated multiple processes of SPPs. Quantitative design of particular configurations/architectures enabling highly efficient and effective multiple processes of SPPs is particularly emphasized as one giant leap toward ultimate full quantitative design of intrinsically high‐performance SERS chips and very critical for their batch manufacturability and applications as well. The viewpoints and prospects about innovative SERS devices based on tailored structure‐dominated SPPs effects and their coupling with LSPR are presented and discussed.