The Influence of Pore Size on the Photocatalytic and SERS Performance of Nanoporous Au–Ag Shells

Nanoporous metals have garnered significant attention in catalysis due to their unique three-dimensional interconnected network structure and pronounced localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties. In this study, nanoporous Au-Ag shells with varying pore sizes (8, 10, 12, and 18 nm) were synthesized, and their catalytic efficiencies were systematically evaluated. The conversion of p-nitrothiophenol (PNTP) to dimercapto-azobenzene (DMAB) was used to investigate the influence of pore size on the reaction kinetics and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effects. Experimental results reveal that the nanoporous Au-Ag shells with a 12 nm pore size exhibit relatively high catalytic efficiency. Furthermore, tuning the pore size enables the modulation of LSPR in the near-infrared region. These findings highlight the critical role of pore size modulation in determining the photocatalytic performance of nanoporous metallic materials and provide valuable insights for the design and optimization of highly efficient photocatalysts.