Enhanced Physical Absorption Properties of ZnO Nanorods by Electrostatic Self-Assembly with Reduced Graphene Oxide and Decorated with Silver and Copper Nanoparticles

Lina Zeki Yahiya,Mohamed K Dhahir

doi:10.30723/ijp.v19i48.619

Abstract

The preparation and characterization of innovative nanocomposites based on zinc oxide nanorods (ZNR) encapsulated by graphene (Gr) nanosheets and decorated with silver (Ag), and cupper (Cu) nanoparticles (NP) were studied. The prepared nanocomposites (ZNR@Gr/Cu-Ag) were examined by different techniques including Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Vis spectrophotometer and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed that the ZNR has been good cover by five layers of graphene and decorated with Ag and Cu NPs with particles size of about 10-15 nm. The ZNR@Gr/Cu-Ag nanocomposites exhibit high absorption behavior in ultraviolet (UV) region of spectrum. In comparison with ZNR, the ZNR@Gr/Cu-Ag nanocomposites reveal superior absorption in the entire region of 387–1000 nm. Moreover, the band gap decreases from 3.2 eV of ZNR to 1.2 eV for ZNR@Gr/Cu-Ag nanocomposites. Taking into account the superiority of ZNR@Gr/Cu-Ag nanocomposites in terms of easy fabrication, low cost method, and environmental friendliness which made it favorable for huge-scale preparation in many applications such as water splitting, sensor, solar cell, antibacterial and optoelectronic devices.

Highlights

Semiconductor photocatalysis has enticed a noteworthy attention due to its practical applications in many fields including solar energy conversion, environmental remediation, water splitting, antibacterial and optoelectronic devices [1,2,3]
Synthesis of graphene covered zinc oxide nanorods (ZNR)@Gr ZNR@Gr nanocomposite was prepared through electrostatic self-assembly method by merely mixing the positively charged of the functionalize ZNRs aqueous suspension with the negatively charged of the prepared Graphene oxide (GO) solution, the prepared ZNRs were functionalized with amino-propyl-trimethoxy-silane APTMS by the subsequent step
Roughness, structure and morphology of the sample and confirm the formation the ZNR/Cu-Ag and ZNR@Gr/Cu Ag hybrids, energydispersive X-ray (EDX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM, JPK nano wizard ll Germany), were carried out

Summary

Introduction

Semiconductor photocatalysis has enticed a noteworthy attention due to its practical applications in many fields including solar energy conversion, environmental remediation, water splitting, antibacterial and optoelectronic devices [1,2,3]. The morphological and spectroscopic examinations show that Ag and Cu NPs have been distributed regularly on the surface of ZNR@Gr and ZNR and these metals nanoparticles assistance with GO lead to enhance the physical absorption properties of ZNR thin film as reduced the energy gap.

Results

Conclusion