An optimum method for uniform synthesis of zirconia on reduced graphene oxide

• ZrO2 coating on rGO nanosheets through chemical precipitation and isothermal hydrolization.
• FESEM images confirmed homogeneous coating of ZrO2 using isothermal hydrolization @96 h.
• XRD and Raman indicate superior ordering of ZrO2–rGO for isothermal hydrolization @96 h.
• TGA analysis also revealed better thermal decomposition characteristics for 96 h coating.
• CV proved that ZrO2–rGO@96 h offer large barrier for charge transport.

In this work, efforts have been put to explore an optimum technique for uniform and effective coating of zirconia (ZrO2) on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets. ZrO2 coated rGO composites have been prepared through chemical precipitation and isothermal hydrolization techniques. Morphological characterizations (Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy) have proved that in chemical precipitation ZrO2 was agglomerated over the rGO surface and the coating was highly non-uniform. The presence of ZrO2 agglomerates reduces the effectiveness of coating, as observed through microstructural and thermal characterizations. Moreover, the increase in reaction time during isothermal hydrolization offers a more uniform coating and thus enhanced physical, structural and thermal properties. The effect of zirconia coating on charge transport capability of rGO, studied via cyclic voltammetry, also proves that isothermal hydrolization is better than conventional chemical precipitation technique for ceramic-coating on rGO.

Due to the better dispersion ability of rGO, we have presented the growth of ZrO2 on rGO and our main aim is to develop an efficient procedure which leads to the controlled synthesis and uniform dispersion of ZrO2 coating on rGO sheets for their applications in advanced energy storage and functional devices.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide