Title: Comparative characterisations of structural and optical properties of zinc oxide modified by carbon nanotubes and graphene

Authors: Ruijin Hong; Wengang Tuo; Dawei Zhang; Chunxian Tao; Dao Hua Zhang

Addresses: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Modern Optical System, Optical Instrument and Systems Engineering Center of the Ministry of Education, School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, No. 516 JunGong Road, Shanghai 200093, China ' Shanghai Key Laboratory of Modern Optical System, Optical Instrument and Systems Engineering Center of the Ministry of Education, School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, No. 516 JunGong Road, Shanghai 200093, China ' Shanghai Key Laboratory of Modern Optical System, Optical Instrument and Systems Engineering Center of the Ministry of Education, School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, No. 516 JunGong Road, Shanghai 200093, China ' Shanghai Key Laboratory of Modern Optical System, Optical Instrument and Systems Engineering Center of the Ministry of Education, School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, No. 516 JunGong Road, Shanghai 200093, China ' School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore

Abstract: In the present work, we report on the fabrications of ZnO/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and ZnO/graphene composites based on a simple solution synthesis route. The effects of CNTs and graphene on the structure and optical properties of ZnO were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering, optical absorption and photoluminescence measurements. The XRD patterns indicated that both CNTs and graphene could enhance the diffraction intensity of ZnO and the diffraction peaks shifted toward lower 2θ angles. The optical band gap of ZnO/CNTs and ZnO/graphene composites was narrower compared with that of undoped ZnO. Raman scattering spectra showed that the scattering intensities of both the oxygen atom and Zn sublattice-related phonon modes were reduced with the CNTs or graphene doping. The photoluminescence intensities of ZnO samples modified by both CNTs and graphene layers were significantly decreased compared with that of undoped ZnO owing to the interfacial charge-transfer between ZnO and CNTs (graphene).

Keywords: ZnO; zinc oxide; carbon nanotubes; CNTs; graphene; modification; structural properties; optical properties; nanotechnology; composites; photoluminescence; diffraction intensity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2015.071790

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2015 Vol.12 No.10/11/12, pp.793 - 801

Published online: 18 Sep 2015 *

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