Surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of additive by a reusable ZnO/GO/Ag hybrid substrate

Food additives, which are extensively used in food production, have received enthusiastic attention because of their potential threats to human health. Herein, a kind of zinc oxide/graphene oxide/silver (ZnO/GO/Ag) hybrid substrate with both photocatalytic capability and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity was developed by implementing the chemical synthesis and magnetron sputtering technology. The attractive photocatalytic performance of the hybrid substrate was verified to arise from the synergistic effect of Ag and GO in promoting the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes in ZnO. Moreover, it was inspiring that the recyclable assay of 4-mercaptobenzoicacid or melamine was successfully achieved on the same reusable substrate under UV-irradiation, resulting in two calibration curves with minimal limits of detection as 1.0 x 10(-6) and 0.5 x 10(-6) M, respectively. Overall, the multifunctional ZnO/GO/Ag hybrid substrate proposed here may find extensive applications in real-time and fast monitoring of biochemical hazardous molecules.