Urchin-like covalent organic frameworks templated Au@Ag composites for SERS detection of emerging contaminants

Abstract

Au@Ag core–shell composites were successfully fabricated on urchin-like covalent organic frameworks (COFs), providing a platform with numerous hot spots for the detection of two categories of emerging contaminants: sulfonamide antibiotics and nanoplastics, using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Au seeds (∼10 nm) were generated on the COFs, leveraging the reducing properties of the vinyl and imino groups within the framework. This ensured the growth of dense and uniformly distributed Ag nanoparticles. The COFs exceptionally large surface area (2324 m² g⁻¹) and high adsorption capacity, significantly contributed to the enrichment and detection of trace pollutants. As a result, using a portable Raman spectrometer, limits of detection of 0.008 μmol L⁻¹ for sulfamethoxazole and 0.029 mg L⁻¹ for polystyrene nanoplastics were achieved.