Issue 22, 2023

Optimized electromagnetic enhancement and charge transfer in MXene/Au/Cu2O hybrids for achieving efficient SERS

Abstract

The rational optimization of the electromagnetic field enhancement and charge transfer in a Raman substrate is vital for achieving efficient surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Herein, a ternary plasmonic substrate, whose structure-adjustable Au nanotriangle/Cu2O hybrids are combined with two-dimensional Ti3C2Tx MXene ultrathin nanosheets, is prepared and used for efficient SERS detection of molecules. By controlling the growth of Cu2O on Au nanotriangles, Au/Cu2O hybrids with three tips exposed are prepared, which show much better SERS performance than bare Au and core–shell Au@Cu2O in detecting methylene blue (MB) under excitation at 785 nm due to the optimized electromagnetic field enhancement and charge transfer. Furthermore, the Au/Cu2O hybrids are transferred to the plasmonic Ti3C2Tx nanosheet, generating a further enhanced electromagnetic field around their interfaces. As a result, the MXene/Au/Cu2O hybrids present further improved SERS activity, and their analytical enhancement factor reaches 2.4 × 109 and the detection limit is as low as 10−12 M. The enhancement mechanism can be ascribed to the improved electric field enhancement around the Au tips and the interface between MXene and Au/Cu2O. Meanwhile, the multiple charge-transfer processes between Au, Cu2O, MXene, and MB also play an important role in improving the SERS signal.

Graphical abstract: Optimized electromagnetic enhancement and charge transfer in MXene/Au/Cu2O hybrids for achieving efficient SERS

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Feb 2023
Accepted
07 May 2023
First published
09 May 2023

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2023,25, 15209-15218

Optimized electromagnetic enhancement and charge transfer in MXene/Au/Cu2O hybrids for achieving efficient SERS

Y. Zhao, Z. Zheng, L. Zhang, J. Feng, L. Ma and S. Ding, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2023, 25, 15209 DOI: 10.1039/D3CP00887H

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