Multifunctional Ag2CO3 microrods as SERS-active substrate for the detection and degradation of Rhodamine B dye

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2021 Dec 15:263:120176. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2021.120176. Epub 2021 Jul 13.

Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a non-destructive and ultrasensitive detection tool used for a variety of contaminants in recent years. In this paper, we synthesized a multifunctional Ag2CO3 nanocomposite for a sensitive SERS detection and photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye. The proposed Ag2CO3 substrate was characterized using XRD, UV-vis, FESEM, EDX and TEM techniques. Ag2CO3 exhibited a strong SERS sensitivity with a detection limit of 10-11 M and good reproducibility for the detection of RhB molecules. The degradation efficiency of Ag2CO3 under visible light irradiation was found to be 95%. The SERS and photocatalysis mechanisms were proposed considering the charge-transfer paths between the substrate and RhB molecules. Additionally, an excellent reusability property of Ag2CO3 microcrystals was observed for SERS detection due to its catalytic activity. This work explores the potential usability of Ag2CO3 substrate as a promising candidate for detection and photodegradation applications.

Keywords: Charge transfer; Photocatalyst; RhB; SERS detection; Silver-based substrate.

MeSH terms

  • Photolysis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Rhodamines
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman*

Substances

  • Rhodamines
  • rhodamine B