Gold nanoparticles-decorated MoS2 grown on ZnO nanorod array for sensitive SERS detection and efficient photodegradation of organic dye

In this work, a composite ZnO/MoS2/AuNPs supported on carbon fiber cloth (CFC) was prepared by progressively growing ZnO nanorods array, MoS2 nanosheets and AuNPs on CFC for sensitive SERS detection and efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dye pollutants. The ZnO/MoS2 heterojunctions showed a significant CM effect and further decorating AuNPs with EM effect improved the detection limit of crystal violet (CV) from 10(-6) to 10(-13) M. The composite can be used for qualitative SERS detection of CV or Nile blue in standard solution or real samples with high stability and good stability. The enhancement mechanisms of CFC/ZnO/MoS(2 )and CFC/ZnO/MoS2/AuNPs were discussed based on corresponding characterizations and calculations. The composite also showed efficient photocatalysis for dye degradation. The ZnO/MoS(2 )heterojunction played a key role in enhancing the charge separation rate and improving the photocatalytic performance. The materials achieved degradation efficiencies of 71.4% for CV (1.5 x 10(-5) M) after 60 min irradiation under visible light. The active radical species were investigated and possible degradation approach were proposed. Such composite with both SERS enhancement and visible light photodegradation ability has great promise in environment monitoring and remediation.