A single-source precursor route to a Cu/V2O5 composites as surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates and catalysts for cross coupling

A Cu/V2O5 composite was obtained via a simple and time-saving microwave-assisted reduction method from a single-source precursor, copper vanadate. This composite exhibited excellent SERS sensitivity and reproducibility for both Rhodamine 6G (1.0 x 10(-7) M) and 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (1.0 x 10(-5) M) probe molecules, with the enhancement factor of 1.9 x 10(6) for Rhodamine 6G. The Lewis acid-base properties of V2O5 help improve the chemical enhancement of SERS via Lewis acid-base interaction. Furthermore, the Cu/V2O5 composite was also employed to catalyze C-N and C-C bond cross coupling of the Ullmann reaction. The results demonstrated that Cu/V2O5 catalysts had a better catalytic ability toward the C-N bond (yield of 92.5%) than the C-C bond (yield of 68.8%). This SERS-active composite was hopeful in monitoring the catalytic reactions with in situ SERS technology.