Monitoring Chemical Reactions with SERS-Active Ag-Loaded Mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub> Films
M. Mercedes Zalduendo, Víctor Oestreicher, Judith Langer, Luis M. Liz‐Marzán, Paula C. Angelomé
Abstract
system was employed to monitor two chemical reactions: one occurring on the Ag NPs surface and another taking place in the surrounding solution. In the first case, we monitored the decarboxylation reaction of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid on Ag NPs, which allowed us to identify the conditions that favor it. In the second case, we studied the pH evolution in the nanocavities during a homogeneous alkalization process driven by chloride-assisted glycidol rupture (the Epoxide Route) and compared it with pH measurements by conventional techniques. We therefore demonstrated that the proposed nanodevice provides an excellent performance to monitor dynamic processes occurring either inside the material or in the solution in which it is immersed.