Photoinduced Charge Transfer Empowers Ta<sub>4</sub>C<sub>3</sub> and Nb<sub>4</sub>C<sub>3</sub> MXenes with High SERS Performance
Leilei Lan, Ziheng Ni, Caiye Zhao, Juan Gao, Xiao Tang, Zhongwei Qu, Lingcheng Zheng, Xingce Fan, Teng Qiu
Abstract
This study introduces two-dimensional (2D) Ta 4 C 3 and Nb 4 C 3 MXenes as outstanding materials for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing, marking a significant departure from traditional noble-metal substrates. These MXenes exhibit exceptional SERS capabilities, achieving enhancement factors around 10 5 and detection limits as low as 10 –7 M for various analytes, including environmental pollutants and drugs. The core of their SERS functionality is attributed to the robust interfacial photoinduced charge-transfer interactions between the MXenes and the adsorbed molecules. This deep insight not only advances our understanding of MXene materials in SERS applications but also opens new avenues for developing highly sensitive and selective SERS sensors. The potential of Ta 4 C 3 and Nb 4 C 3 MXenes to revolutionize SERS technology underscores their importance in environmental monitoring, food safety, and beyond.