Raman spectroscopy: Nanostructures

Raman spectroscopy provides information on the structure, electronic and vibrational properties of crystals by the inelastic photon scattering effect. It has been a fast and nondestructive characterization tool with high spatial and spectral resolutions, which is preferential to nanostructures. The classical and quantum theory of Raman scattering effect is introduced, with the emphasis on the basic features of a Raman spectrum. Phonons in nanostructures are first exampled by the case of a semiconductor superlattice and then extended into other systems based on their Raman spectra. The applications of resonance Raman scattering are demonstrated by studying the phonon dispersion, electronic structure and enhancement of interlayer shear phonon in carbon materials.