Abstract
In this work, the effects of graphene oxide (GO) concentrations (1.5 wt.%, 2.5 wt.%, and 5 wt.%) on the structural, morphological, optical, and luminescence properties of zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs)/GO nanocomposites, synthesized by a facile hydrothermal process, were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of NRs revealed the hexagonal wurtzite structure for all composites with an average coherence length of about 40–60 nm. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study confirmed the presence of transparent and wrinkled, dense GO nanosheets among flower-like ZnO nanorods, depending on the GO amounts used in preparation. Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements revealed the impact of GO concentration on the optical and luminescence properties of ZnO NRs/GO nanocomposites. The energy band gap of the ZnO nanorods was independent of GO concentration. Photoluminescence spectra of nanocomposites showed a significant decrease in the intensities in the visible light range and red shifted suggesting a charge transfer process. The nanocomposites’ chromaticity coordinates for CIE 1931 color space were estimated to be (0.33, 0.34), close to pure white ones. The obtained results highlight the possibility of using these nanocomposites to achieve good performance and suitability for optoelectronic applications.
Highlights
Recent developments in material science and nanostructures have required the synthesis of new versatile materials
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements revealed the impact of graphene oxide (GO) concentration on the optical and luminescence properties of zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs)/GO nanocomposites
The emissions have been characterized by calculating chromaticity color coordinates, using the CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram (Figure 12b)
Summary
Recent developments in material science and nanostructures have required the synthesis of new versatile materials. With a wide direct band gap (~3.3 eV) and high exciton binding energy (~60 meV) at room temperature, a low cost, and an easy synthesis of different related nanostructures, zinc oxide (ZnO) has emerged as one of the most attractive metal oxides widely used for optoelectronic applications [1,2]. Among ZnO-based nanostructures, the nanorod (NR)-like shape has attracted great attention, due to their properties as well as the low reaction temperature, economic advantages, and facile synthesis [3]. The synthesis of nanocomposites based on ZnO and graphene or graphene oxide (GO) appears to be one of the most promising and cost-effective approaches, to control the morphology, band gap, and surface defect states of ZnO nanostructures [5]. GO is known for its high solubility due to the different functional groups including hydroxyl and epoxide on its surface and for the inexpensive techniques of production [12], which have facilitated its use in device fabrication [13]
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