A very simple procedure for depositing bare Au nanoparticles onto the surface of oxide nanoshells is presented. This method is based on plasmonic heating assisted processes which are triggered by a continuous wave laser source that is focused through the objective of a Raman microscope. The Au nanoparticles are obtained upon laser irradiation of colloidal crystals consisting of Au semishells buried in titania over-layers. SERS activity and heating effects induced by laser irradiation are demonstrated in a series of microRaman experiments. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.