Hybrid composite based on conducting polymers and plasmonic nanomaterials applied to catalysis and sensing

Combining plasmonic and semiconductors offers significant potential in creating sensing and photocatalytic devices. Nanocomposites including both metals and semiconductors can control the charge states in the metals that can enhance catalysis activity along with plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy. Here we demonstrate the use of conducting polymer materials with plasmonic nanomaterials to boost up to five-fold plasmon-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy signal strength and support oxidation of target molecules through supporting charge transfer processes. This work demonstrates the use of conducting polymers as a semiconductor platform to support plasmonic catalysis and sensing.