Bi-functional Au/FeS (Au/Co sub(3)O sub(4)) composite for in situ SERS monitoring and degradation of organic pollutants

The bi-functional Au/FeS (Au/Co sub(3)O sub(4)) composite was fabricated by in situ reducing Au nanoparticles onto the surface of FeS (Co sub(3)O sub(4)). The as-prepared FeS possessed a multi-structure composed of plenty of nanoplates, which were coated by Au nanoparticles with an average size of ~47.5 nm. While the Co sub(3)O sub(4) showed a thin hexagonal sheet containing Au nanoparticles on its surface with an average size of ~79.0 nm. Both the as-prepared Au/FeS and Au/Co sub(3)O sub(4) composites exhibited excellent SERS performance, capable of enhancing the Raman signals of R6G molecules with the enhancement factor up to 1.81 10 super(6) and 7.60 10 super(4), respectively. Moreover, Au/FeS (Au/Co sub(3)O sub(4)) composite also has been verified to have intrinsic peroxidase-like activity, which could decompose H sub(2)O sub(2) into hydroxyl radicals and then degrade organic pollutants into small molecules. Therefore, SERS can be used to real-time and in situ monitoring the degradation process of R6G molecules, employing the Au/FeS (Au/Co sub(3)O sub(4)) composite both as SERS substrate and catalyst. SERS was used to real-time and in situ monitoring the degradation of R6G, employing the Au/FeS and Au/Co sub(3)O sub(4) composites both as SERS substrates and catalysts.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]