Synthesis of recyclable SERS platform based on MoS2@TiO2@Au heterojunction for photodegradation and identification of fungicides

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates based on metal/semiconductors have attracted much attention due to their excellent photocatalytic activity and SERS performance. However, they generally exhibit low light utilization and photocatalytic efficiencies. Herein, molybdenum disulfide coated titanium dioxide modified with gold nanoparticles (MoS2@TiO2@Au) as a heterojunction-based recyclable SERS platform was fabricated for the efficient determination of fungicides. Results showed that the MoS2@TiO2@Au platform could rapidly degrade 90.7% crystal violet in 120 min under solar light irradiation and enable reproducible and sensitive SERS analysis of three fungicides (methylene blue, malachite green, and crystal violet) and in-situ monitor of the photodegradation process. The platform could also be reused five times due to the unique inte-grated merits of the MoS2@TiO2@Au heterojunction. Meanwhile, experiments in determining methylene blue in prawn protein solution achieved a limit of detection of 1.509 mu g/L. Therefore, it is hoped that this work could expand detection applications of photocatalytic materials.

Automated summary

In this study, a heterojunction platform based on molybdenum disulfide coated titanium dioxide modified with gold nanoparticles was fabricated for the efficient determination of fungicides. The platform could rapidly degrade crystal violet under solar light irradiation and enable sensitive SERS analysis of three fungicides and in-situ monitoring of the photodegradation process.