Layer-by-layer synthesis of metal oxide (or hydroxide)-graphene nanocomposites. The synthesis of CuO nanorods-graphene nanocomposite

Abstract

Principle conditions for layer-by-layer synthesis of nanocomposite films incorporating graphene and metal oxides or hydroxides are formulated in the paper. As an example of this method the synthesis of nanocomposite containing graphene nanosheets and copper oxide (II) nanorods is described. This material was first synthesized in our study using amminecuprate (II) solution and water suspension of graphene. Analysis of the synthesized thin films by SEM, XRD and Raman spectroscopy have shown that the size of the graphene nanosheets in the films is about 5 µm and the size of the cupric oxide nanorods with monoclinic crystalline structure is approximately 10-12 by 150-200 nm. Some recommendations are given concerning potential applications of these layers in the electrodes of electrocatalysts and electrochemical sensors.