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

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 AgCO nanocomposite for a sensitive SERS detection and photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye. The proposed AgCO substrate was characterized using XRD, UV-vis, FESEM, EDX and TEM techniques. AgCO exhibited a strong SERS sensitivity with a detection limit of 10 M and good reproducibility for the detection of RhB molecules. The degradation efficiency of AgCO 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 AgCO microcrystals was observed for SERS detection due to its catalytic activity. This work explores the potential usability of AgCO substrate as a promising candidate for detection and photodegradation applications.