Reconfigurable multicomponent plasmonic hybrids for promoting photocatalytic H2O2 production, SERS and antibacterial in tandem

Plasmonic nanostructures are a promising class of materials for solar-chemical conversion and trace substance detection. However, the low effective electron density, poor charge separation efficiency and the inability to tandem solar-chemical conversion and trace detection capabilities limit their further application. Here, we report a multicomponent plasmonic hybrid consisting of in situ reduced gold nanoparticles anchored at the hetero-interface of reduced graphene oxide/polyethyleneimine/graphitic carbon nitride electrostatically assembled layers as the plasmonic photocatalysts and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) hotspots. Experiments and theoretical calculations prove that the hybrid simultaneously optimizes three keys to photocatalysis: i) the generation of electrons via multiple pathways and the increase of the effective electron density, ii) the formation of a hetero-interface to lower the Schottky barrier and the synergistic plasma resonance to form an electric field to promote the charge separation, iii) the promotion of the substrate molecule adsorption and the reconfiguration of the gold nanoparticles. Thus, the hybrid achieves an H 2 O 2 production rate of 2.196 mmol g −1 h −1 in air and under acidic conditions. We further show that the complexes have synergistic effects in applications such as SERS detection of fruit and vegetable residues and photodegradation and antimicrobial preservation. This work may be useful for rationally designing plasmonic nanostructures and their application to photocatalysis in conjunction with SERS.