Multifunctional nanotube-like Fe3O4/PANI/CDs/Ag hybrids: An efficient SERS substrate and nanocatalyst

In this paper, the stable and environment-friendly Fe3O4 nanotubes with polyaniline (Fe3O4 NTs/PANI hybrids) have been prepared via mesoporous anodic alumina oxide (AAO) template, sol-gel method and in-situ polymerization. Then multifunctional Fe3O4 NTs/PANI/Ag hybrids have been obtained by decorating Ag nanoparticles by glucose reduction on surface of Fe3O4 NTs/PANI hybrids. The morphologies and structures of these hybrids were subsequently investigated by SEM, XRD, TEM and XPS measurements. The Fe3O4 NTs/PANI/Ag hybrids presented high catalytic activity due to the template-assisted presence, preventing Ag particulate agglomeration. Importantly, the Fe3O4 NTs/PANI/Ag hybrids achieve sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals. Furthermore, the introduction of carbon dots (CDs) endows these hybrids good dispersion and stable photoluminescence (PL). Therefore, the obtained hybrids may have potential applications in waste water treatment, biomedicine, photocatalyst, and environmental analysis.