A two-dimensional hybrid of NiO nanowalls and reduced graphene oxide for superior field emission

Abstract

The sharp and 2D nanostructure of nickel oxide (NiO) was synthesized hydrothermally on the nickel(Ni) foil and studied for field emission application. Graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene (rGO) is also good field emitter due to their unique electrical properties and geometry. The 2D_NiO nanostructured substrate was coated with GO solution, and it form a hetero-structure. The structure, morphology, and elemental details of as-synthesized materials, as well as hybrid samples, were determined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The field emission study of the samples was studied for NiO nanostructures samples showed field emission response. The turn-on field and maximum currents are 7.5 V/μm and 4.9 mA/cm2; for graphene oxide coated Ni foil, Ni_GO sample, 14 V/μm, and the maximum current is 2.6 mA/cm2. With a coating of GO on the NiO nanostructured surface, the field emission response enhanced abruptly. In the hybrid sample, NiO_GO, the field emission response is enhanced abruptly, the turn-on the field and the maximum current are 5.7 V/μm and 15.5 mA/ cm2, respectively. The field emission response is substantially increased than that of the individual 2D nanostructure, which has shown a low field emission. The field emission response increased further, introducing rGO on the Nanostructured substrate. In the NiO_rGO sample, the turn-on field and the maximum currents are 4.4 V/μm and 39.6 mA/ cm2, respectively.