Efficient SERS and electrocatalytic activities of micro/nano-structured shower-nozzle-like volcanic ash

• A unique micro/nano-structured shower-nozzle-like volcanic ash (VA) was explored.
• VA showed an ordered porous structure composed of regular macro- and meso-porous.
• VA showed a certain SERS response and VA/Ag hybrid exhibited a strong SERS effect.
• VA possessed high electrocatalytic activity to octylphenol.

Volcanic ashes (VA) are often referenced as examples for natural particles, yet the application in sensors is only rarely documented. Here, a unique kind of micro/nano-structured shower-nozzle-like VA was explored. The natural VA showed an ordered porous structure with an average diameter of ca. 20 μm, and it was constituted by regular ca. 200 nm macroporous and ca. 4 nm mesoporous. The surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity of the VA was investigated by using crystal violet (CV) as a probe. It was found that shower-nozzle-like VA itself possessed a certain SERS response. Moreover, the VA/Ag nanoparticles hybrid exhibited a strong SERS enhancement effect with an enhancement factor of 8×108. Meanwhile, cyclic voltammetry was applied to investigate the electrochemistry performance of the VA-dopamine-glassy carbon (VA-DA-GCE) modified electrode. It was found that the VA possessed high electrocatalytic activity to octylphenol. This good analytical performance makes micro/nano-structured shower-nozzle-like VA as promising SERS or electrochemical sensor for the detection of trace organic pollutants.

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