Table 1.

The signal-to-background ratio (SBR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values at P_in = 1 mW and t = 1 s for different SERS platforms evaluated based on the 1339 cm⁻¹ mode of a NTP monolayer. If we use another input power or integration time, the absolute value of the SNR will change, but the relative SNR of different SERS platforms will remain the same. FS indicates free-space and WG is the waveguide-based excitation and collection of the SERS signal. For the sake of this table, only the shot noise contribution from the background is taken into account (as it will be more relevant when looking for weaker peaks than the 1339 cm⁻¹ mode).

SERS Platform	SBR	SNR (Pin = 1 mW, t = 1 s)
Gold nanodomes (FS)	3.28	3 × 104
Integrated bowties (WG)	0.12	102
Integrated nanotriangles (WG)	0.72	103
Nanoplasmonic slot waveguide (WG)	1.16	2 × 103