In situ growth of gold nanoparticles on nickel-aluminum layered double hydroxide for dye SERS detection and photocatalytic degradation

Dyes are crucial in the textile industry, but wastewater from this sector often contains hazardous dyes, which can cause environmental pollution when discharged into natural water. The development of effective water quality monitoring methods and simpler wastewater treatment approaches like photocatalytic degradation is essential. In this study, gold nanoparticles were synthesized on the surface of nickel-aluminum layered double hydroxide via a straightforward in situ synthesis approach, successful construction the Au0.7@NiAl-LDH composite that exhibited remarkable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and photocatalytic properties. Through optimizing the loading of gold nanoparticles, we attained optimal performance in SERS detection with a detection limit as low as 6.46 x 10_12 M for methylene blue and an enhancement factor of 5.20 x 108. Furthermore, it demonstrated excellent recovery rates for spiked samples within natural water matrices. Additionally, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the Au0.7@NiAl-LDH substrate for methylene blue reached an impressive 83.87% within 170 min while maintaining high efficiency after five cycles. Consequently, this material holds promise as a highly effective bifunctional platform for sensitive SERS detection and efficient photodegradation of environmental contaminants.