ZnO/graphene/Ag composite as recyclable surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering active substrates based on ZnO/Ag and ZnO/graphene/Ag were prepared via synthesis of ZnO nanorod arrays through the ZnO seed layers, followed by deposition of Ag nanoparticles onto ZnO and ZnO/graphene surfaces using photocatalytic deposition. The hybrid structures were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Rhodamine 6G (R6G) was used as the probe analyte. The experimental results indicated that the detection concentration level was ${10}^{-7}\mathrm{M}$ with an enhancement factor of about $1.6\times {10}^5$. Additionally, the photocatalytic properties of ZnO/Ag and ZnO/graphene/Ag were exploited to recycle these substrates through UV-assisted cleaning.