Title : Photoactive SERS platforms based on BP-RGO decorated with metal nanoparticles: Toward real-time monitoring in integrated photocatalytic systems
Abstract:
The development of advanced photocatalytic technologies for environmental remediation is conditional upon the existence of reliable analytical tools with the capacity to monitor molecular transformations in real time. In a robust and high-impact photocatalyst, an integrated system of detect-treat-monitor is of significant value, as it facilitates in situ monitoring of intermediate products resulting from photodegradation. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has emerged as a powerful technique for sensitive and selective detection of trace compounds, offering the potential to probe molecule–surface interactions under illumination conditions relevant to photocatalysis.
In this work, we report the fabrication and characterization of black phosphorus-reduced graphene oxide (BP-RGO) hybrid nanostructures decorated with metal nanoparticles (Ag, Au, Ag@Au, Au@Ag) designed as highly sensitive SERS platforms for the detection of pharmaceutical compounds. The structural and optical properties of the plasmonic nanoparticles were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV–VIS absorption spectroscopy, confirming controlled particle morphology and strong optical response suitable for plasmon-enhanced detection. The hybrid architecture promotes efficient molecule adsorption and charge-transfer interactions at the interface, enabling reproducible and enhanced Raman signals.
Although the system is primarily developed for sensing applications, the photoactive nature of the BP–RGO–metal heterostructure and the light-driven processes involved in SERS measurements are closely related to mechanisms governing photocatalytic reactions. These similarities suggest that such SERS platforms can serve as complementary analytical tools for monitoring photocatalytic transformations.
We propose the integration of SERS-based sensors into photocatalytic treatment systems as real-time monitoring components within a detect–treat–monitor framework. This approach could enable continuous identification of reactants, intermediates, and degradation products, providing valuable feedback for process optimization and control. The presented results highlight the potential of hybrid photoactive SERS platforms not only for sensitive detection of pharmaceutical compounds, but also for future integration into advanced photocatalytic systems.
