Easily deposited ZnO nanorods on siloxene nanosheets: investigation of morphological, dielectric, ferroelectric, and energy storage properties

Abstract

The integration of metal oxides onto two-dimensional layered siloxene has proven to be an effective strategy for expanding potential applications across diverse fields. Herein, we present the synthesis and detailed characterization of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods deposited on siloxene nanosheets using the wet chemical precipitation method without the need of alkali. The presence of ZnO nanorods was confirmed through electron microscopy analyses. X-ray diffraction analysis further verified the presence of characteristic peaks of ZnO in the hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure. Dielectric measurements demonstrated the moderated stability of interfacial polarization in siloxene nanosheets doped with zinc oxide (SX-ZnO) over a broad frequency spectrum, coupled with minimal electrical loss values under 0.4 within the 100 Hz to 1 MHz frequency range. In addition, the ferroelectric study of SiNSs–ZnO composites revealed a slim hysteresis loop with maximum polarization and remnant polarization values that varied with reaction times. The SX-ZnO sample prepared for 5 h exhibited the best stored energy properties, featuring a moderate stored energy density (W_s = 771.94 mJ cm⁻³) and a high energy efficiency of 83.38%. This investigation underscores that the modification of siloxene layers through the deposition of nanostructured transition metal oxide materials leads to stabilized interfacial polarization and enhanced efficient energy storage.