Metal organic frameworks mediated silver nanoparticles in the TiO2 coated copper sheet for synergetically enhanced surface enhanced Raman scattering and photocatalytic activities

A novel Ag/ZIF-67/Ag-TiO 2 /Cu sheet with sandwich structure was constructed. It was a highly efficient SERS substrate and photocatalyst for detection and degradation of a typical pollutant (phenol red) in waste water due to the synergistic effect of those Ag NPs by means of ZIF-67 and the Schottky barriers. • Plug and play Ag/ZIF-67/TiO 2 /Cu with sandwich structure was facilely fabricated. • The Ag/ZIF-67/TiO 2 /Cu was used as a SERS substrate for trace detection of PhR. • The substrate showed stable and high photocatalytic degradation for the toxic PhR. • Synergistic effect and Schottky barriers were responsible for its high activity. Herein, on the titanium oxide coated copper sheet, Ag nanoparticles were grown with cobalt 2-methylimidazole metal–organic framework (ZIF-67) as a special medium. Subsequently, a novel sheet with sandwich structure (Ag/ZIF-67/Ag-TiO 2 /Cu, abbreviated as AZATC) was constructed. By X-ray powder diffraction, electron microscopies, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the AZATC sheet were characterized. Compared to the Ag/ZIF-67/TiO 2 /Cu (AZTC) composite and some traditional substrates, the AZATC with sandwich Ag showed a more sensitive enhanced surface enhanced Raman scattering ( SERS) response to phenol red (PhR, 1 × 10 -10 M). Furthermore, the plug and play AZATC sheet showed excellent and stable photocatalytic degradation for PhR even if it was recycled for 6 times. Especially, the novel and cost-effective AZATC was also used to efficiently detect and degrade the PhR in real samples.