Parametric optimization of laser-assisted photocatalytic growth of Ag and Au nanoparticles for high SERS enhancement factor performance informed by design of experiment is demonstrated. The photodeposition process was divided into two phases – seeding and growth – in order to achieve the highest possible nanoparticle surface coverage for the size range from 10 to 100 nm. Substantial difference in the parameter effects between the Ag and Au seeding and growth was found. SERS performance of...