We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to browse this site you agree to our use of cookies. More info.
In an article published in the journal Nanomaterials, researchers explored the influence on photocurrent sensitivity of hydrothermally synthesized electrochemically active graphene quantum dots on the conjugated polymer used for a new single-layer device.
Study: Polymer Nanocomposite Graphene Quantum Dots for High-Efficiency Ultraviolet Photodetector . Image Credit: Tayfun Ruzgar/Shutterstock.com
Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have drawn much interest in recent years because of their distinctive qualities, including cheap cost, mass manufacturing, improved biocompatibility, strong water solubility and highly controllable photoluminescence (PL). Due to their notable electrical and optical features, graphene quantum dots are among the most essential zero-dimensional materials. Creating multiple layers and the graphene quantum dots' small size of less than 30 nm makes them unique. Due to its excellent fluorescence behavior, the charge generated by the quantum confinement effect, and the edge effect, graphene quantum dots also attracted interest for optoelectronic applications.
The development of quantum dots' dispersion in the polymer matrix is a crucial topic that has received much research. For example, quantum dots may be included in polymeric matrices to improve stability and prevent aggregation. In addition, it displays a diverse range of absorption spectra from UV to visible wavelengths. Furthermore, graphene quantum dots are anticipated to exhibit greater biocompatibility compared to other inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles. Studying the photoresponsive characteristics of conducting polymer-GQDs nanocomposites is crucial.
Polypyrrole (PPy) is a special conducting polymer with good charge transfer resistance, large electron affinity, low ionization potential, high electrical conductivity, mass manufacturing, cheap cost and straightforward synthesis. It is a conjugated polymer that is stable in the environment and exhibits great visual absorption. However, polypyrrole uses are constrained because of their poor processability, mechanical attributes, and solubility.
Since the carbon material exhibits better electrochemical, electrical and mechanical capabilities than the conducting polymers alone, the modification of conductive polymer with carbon-based material is crucial for a broad range of applications, including energy storage, catalysis, and sensors.
Inorganic colloidal quantum dots offer greater environmental durability, superior optical characteristics, and significant promise for composites that have shown high-performance UV photodetectors at cheap cost with simple manufacture. In this study, researchers show how to easily and inexpensively produce the Polypyrrole-Graphene Quantum Dots (PPy-GQD) composite using a chemical oxidation polymerization technique.
The one-step hydrothermal approach was used to produce the graphene quantum dots. First, 100 mL of deionized water was used to dissolve 3 wt% of glucose powder completely, and then the mixture was sonicated for 20 minutes. The final product's color changed from translucent to light yellow after being cooked at 180 °C for three hours in a 100 mL Teflon-lined stainless steel autoclave. The yellow solution produced after centrifuging the prepared solution for 30 minutes at 3000 rpm contains graphene quantum dots.
With constant stirring, 100 mL of 1 M HCl was combined with a 0.3 M pyrrole monomer and 0.7 M FeCl3 solution. The solution was supplemented with 20 and 40 mL of graphene quantum dots, and the mixture was then heated at 60 °C for 20 min. This solution was mixed with 100 mL of 0.7 M FeCl3, centrifuged after 15 minutes, and produced PPy-GQDs (PGC) composites. The polypyrrole's 20 and 40 mL graphene quantum dots were designated as PGC2 and PGC4, respectively.
The ultrasonically cleaned ITO-coated glass substrates were washed in deionized water after being cleaned in acetone and methanol for 10 minutes at 27 °C and were dried using 99.9999% pure nitrogen gas.
The PPy-GQDs active layer was applied on ITO using a simple brush coating and cured for 15 minutes at 60 °C. A doctor blade approach was used on the device's top to apply the silver paste; its effective area was 1 cm2. Under UV light, the manufactured device with thicknesses of 84.7 nm (PGC4) and 91.3 nm (PGC2) was evaluated for cyclic voltammetry and IT measurement.
To highlight the physical and chemical characteristics of the synthesized composite nanostructure GQDs-based novel UV photodetector device, several measurements were then carried out, including the energy level diagram, Mott Schottky plot, device photoresponse and photocurrent, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), photoluminescence (PL), UV-visible absorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and FT-IR.
The hydrothermal process was used to create highly luminous graphene quantum dots. Polypyrrole-graphene quantum dots composites were created using a chemical oxidation polymerization method. The crystal fringes in the transmission electron microscopy picture and the FT-IR data indicated that the graphene quantum dots were evenly distributed over the polypyrrole surface. The photoluminescence verified that the π-conjugation interaction between polypyrrole and graphene quantum dots is what causes the composite's redshift. The new photodetector strongly responds to 355 nm UV light, 2.33 μA/W in PGC4 composite.
By using polypyrrole-graphene quantum dots composites in high-performance, affordable UV photodetectors, there are now more opportunities than ever before due to the decreased carrier transportation barrier brought about by the improved responsivity compared to PGC2 (1.93 μA/W), which also led to excellent stability and reproducibility, quick response times, and highly durable devices. In the future, the hybrid photodetector device's stable monolayer of active material can be established via further research for various wavelengths.
Molahalli Vandana, Hundekal Devendrappa, Paola De Padova and Gurumurthy Hegde (2022) Polymer Nanocomposite Graphene Quantum Dots for High-Efficiency Ultraviolet Photodetector. Nanomaterials. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/18/3175/htm
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.
Taha graduated from HITEC University Taxila with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering. During his studies, he worked on several research projects related to Mechanics of Materials, Machine Design, Heat and Mass Transfer, and Robotics. After graduating, Taha worked as a Research Executive for 2 years at an IT company (Immentia). He has also worked as a freelance content creator at Lancerhop. In the meantime, Taha did his NEBOSH IGC certification and expanded his career opportunities.
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
Khan, Taha. (2022, September 15). Photocurrent Response in Polypyrrole-Graphene Quantum Dots May Be Applicable to Optoelectronics. AZoOptics. Retrieved on September 19, 2022 from https://www.azooptics.com/News.aspx?newsID=27916.
Khan, Taha. "Photocurrent Response in Polypyrrole-Graphene Quantum Dots May Be Applicable to Optoelectronics". AZoOptics. 19 September 2022. <https://www.azooptics.com/News.aspx?newsID=27916>.
Khan, Taha. "Photocurrent Response in Polypyrrole-Graphene Quantum Dots May Be Applicable to Optoelectronics". AZoOptics. https://www.azooptics.com/News.aspx?newsID=27916. (accessed September 19, 2022).
Khan, Taha. 2022. Photocurrent Response in Polypyrrole-Graphene Quantum Dots May Be Applicable to Optoelectronics. AZoOptics, viewed 19 September 2022, https://www.azooptics.com/News.aspx?newsID=27916.
Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this news story?
The Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ EQUINOX 3000 X-ray Diffractometer for research enables accurate measurements.
KLA’s Filmetrics F40 allows you to transform your benchtop microscope into an instrument to measure thickness and refractive index.
This product profile describes the properties and applications of the ProMetric® I-SC Solution Imaging Colorimeter.
AZoOptics speaks to Phaseform, whose approach to adaptive optics is helping to refine optic technologies across applications like life sciences microscopy and optical inspection.
We spoke with University of Bonn spin-off Midel Photonics, a start-up company whose laser beam shaping technology is hoping to sharpen up the laser industry.
Following Laser World of Photonics 2022, we spoke with Matthias Sachsenhauser from Hamamatsu Photonics about the role of laser-driven light sources in the future of the photonics sector.
AZoOptics.com - An AZoNetwork Site
Owned and operated by AZoNetwork, © 2000-2022