The role of University of Otago chemistry professor Jim
McQuillan as a co-discoverer of the most sensitive analytical
spectroscopic technique to be developed was recently
highlighted at an English event celebrating its 40th
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), which allows
molecules to be detected in minute amounts, was discovered by
the late Prof Martin Fleischmann, Prof Patrick Hendra and
Prof McQuillan at the University of Southampton in 1973. SERS
has since revolutionised many areas, including crime-scene
forensic analysis and drug detection.
The UK's Royal Society of Chemistry recently awarded a
National Chemical Landmark blue plaque to Southampton
University's chemistry department to recognise the enormous
impact of SERS.
A society official said SERS had proved to be of ''vital
scientific importance'' in chemistry, genetics and
healthcare, including in detecting cancer genes.
Prof McQuillan and his two colleagues found that by
roughening the metal surface upon which they were looking at
molecules, they could greatly increase the signal that
enabled them to detect these molecules.
This meant they could be detected in far smaller quantities
than before. Prof McQuillan said this ''startling discovery''
involved obtaining a ''million-fold stronger Raman signal
This enabled an inherently weak effect - called ''Raman
scattering''- to be used to detect single molecules. Prof
McQuillan, who is visiting Europe, said in an email interview
he had been ''delighted'' to be invited back to Southampton
for the recent plaque unveiling.
It was ''quite remarkable'' where the discovery had led, he
University of Otago officials said the landmark paper
outlining the SERS discovery had been published in 1974 and
Prof McQuillan left Southampton and joined the Otago
chemistry department the following year.
His important research contributions were recognised when he
was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in