Au-TiO2 Core Shell Motif Scavenger: Facile Synthesis, High SERS Effect, Synergistic Photocatalytic Activity

TiO2 modified gold nanocomposites (Au-TiO2 NCs) were synthesized as a platform for the investigation and degradation of organic pollutants in the real environmental sample, lake soil. The prepared Au-TiO2 NCs show the surface plasmon resonance band at 532 nm. The crystallinity and the formation of Au-TiO2 NCs were confirmed by using X-ray diffraction and vibrational studies. Transmission electron microscope measurement shows the core shell structure of Au-TiO2 NCs. It reveals good photocatalytic activity for degrading pollutants in the lake soil. Using surface enhanced raman scattering the pollutants were detected and it is further confirmed through gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Au-TiO2 NCs degrades the organic pollutants in lake soil and the apparent rate constant of the catalytic reaction is 0.022/min. The observed experimental results show that the high stability Au-TiO2 NCs act as good candidate, both for the detection and degradation of pollutants.