An investigation into the hybrid architecture of Mn–Co nanoferrites incorporated into a polyaniline matrix for photoresponse studies

Abstract

In this study, an enhanced photoresponse was observed in the Mn–Co Nanoferrites (MCFs)–Polyaniline (PANI) nanohybrid architecture due to the formation of interface between PANI and MCFs, which provided a conduction pathway for the movement of charge carriers, and these interfaces were observed in a high-resolution transmission electron micrograph (HR-TEM). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) suggests that the carbon (C 1s) of the MCF–PANI nanohybrid shows peaks at 287.80 eV for CO, 286.17 eV for C–O, 285.24 eV for C–N, 284.50 eV for the sp³ hybridized carbon (C–C/C–H) and 283.84 eV for the sp² hybridized carbon (CC). Current–voltage (I–V) curves reveal an ohmic nature of the MCF–PANI nanohybrid photodetector device. The photoresponse measurements were analyzed using the trap depth concept, demonstrating that the conductive polymer increases the photoconduction mechanism efficiency of MCFs. The constructed photodetector device exhibits a high photoresponsivity of 22.69 A W⁻¹, a remarkable detectivity of 1.36 × 10¹² cm Hz^1/2 W⁻¹ and a fast rise/decay time of 0.7/0.8 s. The excellent performance of the as-fabricated photodetector device could be explained by the intimate interaction between MCFs and PANI at their interface.