title: Detect, remove and reuse: a new paradigm in sensing and removal of Hg (II) from wastewater via SERS-active ZnO/Ag nanoarrays.
abstract: Mercury being one of the most toxic heavy metals has long been a focus of concern due to its gravest threats to human health and environment. Although multiple methods have been developed to detect and/or remove dissolved mercury, many require complicated procedures and sophisticated equipment. Here, we describe a simple surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) active ZnO/Ag nanoarrays that can detect Hg(2+), remove Hg(2+) and can be fully regenerated, not just from Hg(2+) contamination when heat-treated but also from the SERS marker when exposed to UV as a result of the self-cleaning ability of this schottky junction photocatalyst. The sensors are also highly selective because of the unique way mercury (among other chemicals) interacts with Ag nanoparticles, thus reducing its SERS activity.
authors.affiliation: Mercury Management and Chemical Sensing laboratory (MMCSL), Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University , GPO Box 2476 V, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esmaielzadeh Kandjani
authors.forename: Ylias M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Sabri
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammad-Taheri
authors.forename: Vipul
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.forename: Suresh K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhargava
mesh_terms: D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury; D012834:Silver; D062065:Wastewater; D015034:Zinc Oxide