Strategy for Highly Efficient Detection and Removal of Raman Inactive Leuco-Malachite Green on Environmentally Friendly Graphitic Carbon Nitride-Based Nanostructures

The sustainable identification and efficient degradation of some recessive and seriously toxic pollutants are important issues in practical applications. Herein, a portable platform (EAl/ACN/Ag) constructed by growing AgNPs in situ in the cavities of the alkalized carbon nitride (ACN) coated on the etched Al sheet (EAl) is achieved. Interestingly, on the constructed EAl/ACN/Ag substrate irradiated by light for 3 min, a Raman inactive leuco-malachite green (LMG: a highly toxic and environmentally persistent pollutant that is difficult to be found due to being colorless) can be sensitively and selectively detected by surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS). Results demonstrate that the abundant • O 2 –, • OH, and h + active species produced by irradiation of the EAl/ACN/Ag are responsible for the sensitive and selective SERS detection of the Raman-inactive LMG. The green and sustainable initiation in the sensitive SERS detection of LMG is greatly different from those by the traditional chemical process. The limit of detection of LMG can reach 8.99 × 10 –13 mol·L –1, which is superior to some other methods for LMG detection in real samples. In addition, the EAl/ACN/Ag substrate displays excellent photocatalytic activity for LMG molecules. The research will provide a new and green way for the sensitive detection and efficient removal of some recessive and toxic pollutants in food fields and environmental analyses.