Issue 65, 2015

Crystalline quality assessment, photocurrent response and optical properties of reduced graphene oxide uniformly decorated zinc oxide nanoparticles based on the graphene oxide concentration

Abstract

Zinc oxide-nanoparticles (ZnONPs)–reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites with a high degree of crystallinity and a high dispersity were successfully synthesized via a one-pot, facile sol–gel method in a starch environment, during which the formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles, the reduction of graphene oxide and the loading of the ZnONPs onto the rGO surface occur simultaneously. Starch, as a natural capping agent, plays a significant role in controlling the degree of dispersion and coverage of the ZnONPs. The effect of rGO on the crystalline structure and optical properties of the ZnONPs was determined via X-ray diffraction, UV-visible diffused reflectance spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The ZnONPs+rGO composites exhibit excellent potential for photocurrent generation compared with pure ZnONPs under visible light irradiation, provided that efficient photo-induced charge separation and transportation can be achieved at the interface. The maximum photocurrent response, crystalline quality and factor optical properties (NBE/DLE ratio) were obtained for the ZnONPs+rGO composite with a 1.7% mass fraction of rGO, which is twice that achieved on pure ZnONPs.

Graphical abstract: Crystalline quality assessment, photocurrent response and optical properties of reduced graphene oxide uniformly decorated zinc oxide nanoparticles based on the graphene oxide concentration

Associated articles

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 Apr 2015
Accepted
05 Jun 2015
First published
05 Jun 2015

RSC Adv., 2015,5, 53117-53128

Crystalline quality assessment, photocurrent response and optical properties of reduced graphene oxide uniformly decorated zinc oxide nanoparticles based on the graphene oxide concentration

M. Azarang, A. Shuhaimi and M. Sookhakian, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 53117 DOI: 10.1039/C5RA06123G

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