Facile synthesis and bi-functionality of mesoporous TiO2 implanted with AgCu alloy

Here, by a simple one-step in situ chemical reduction method, the Ag x Cu y alloy was tailored on the surface of mesoporous TiO 2 (M-TiO 2 ), therefore, a series of bi-functional mesoporous TiO 2 nanohybrids (M-TiO 2 /Ag x Cu y ) for both surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection and photocatalytic degradation of ampicillin (AMP) were achieved. The composition and structure of the nanohybrids were well characterized using XRD, TEM, XPS and HRTEM-EDS measurements. Results indicated that Ag x Cu y alloy was mainly attached around the pores of M-TiO 2 which may generate more active sites than nonporous P25−Ag−Cu. Thus, the M-TiO 2 /Ag x Cu y nanohybrids could be used as efficient SERS substrates to sensitively monitor the AMP in water with lower detection limit (˜ 1 ppt) than P25−Ag−Cu. Besides, the M-TiO 2 /Ag 3 Cu 1 nanohybrid also showed higher photocatalytic activities for the degradation of AMP under UV irradiation over the M-TiO 2 /Ag, the M-TiO 2 /Cu and the P25−Ag−Cu. This work provided a simple and effective approach to synthesize bi-functional nanohybrids for detection and degradation of organic contaminants in wastewater.