Au/SiC Microfluidic Devices Fabricated by Rapid Laser Cladding for Photocatalytic Degradation of Water Pollutants

The increasing proliferation of third-generation semiconductor silicon carbide (SiC) products has led to the emergence of SiC powder as an industrial byproduct. To reutilize the SiC efficiently, we propose a facile method for fabrication of photocatalytic plates from reclaimed SiC. Our approach involves affixing the SiC onto a glass surface with laser cladding, followed by sputter deposition of a gold film and laser annealing. The resulting nanogold-coated SiC plate exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity due to the injection of hot electrons into the SiC via surface plasmon resonance. Unlike chemical reduction, which requires hours for the synthesis, purification, and isolation of Au/SiC, our approach accomplished this in just 30 min. When illuminated, the Au/SiC plate generated electron-hole pairs that formed radicals in the presence of water and oxygen, leading to the decomposition of methylene blue. Furthermore, the Au/SiC plate can be integrated into a microfluidic device for an enhanced degradation rate and efficiency. This research provides a simple and environmentally friendly approach to the production of photocatalytic plates from reclaimed SiC and contributes to sustainable development.