Interfacial ferromagnetism in reduced graphene oxide–ZnO nanocomposites

Abstract

Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) and rGO–ZnO nanocomposites have been successfully prepared by hydrothermal and solvothermal method, respectively. Powder XRD and Raman spectroscopy studies confirmed the formation of nanocomposites. The nanostructures of samples were imaged and found that ZnO nanoparticles covered over rGO sheets. The reduction of various oxygen containing functional groups attached on the few layered graphitic planes and the presence of oxygen vacancies in nanocomposites were confirmed by XPS. The relative contribution of PL emission bands in composites arises due to the existence of intrinsic defects. The M–H curve of rGO sheets and rGO–ZnO nanocomposites exhibit ferromagnetic behavior. The decrease of magnetization in composites owing to increases the rGO ratio leads to decrease the oxygen vacancies in the surface of ZnO nanopaticles.