Photovoltaic properties of graphene oxide sheets beaded with ZnO nanoparticles

A hybrid material of graphene oxide (GO) sheets beaded with ZnO nanoparticles was prepared. The material extends over a few hundred square nanometers, in which the ZnO nanoparticles (average diameter (∼5 nm)) are dispersed evenly on the GO sheet. Both the surface photovoltage or surface photocurrent intensity for the material are much stronger than for pure ZnO nanoparticles, meaning that the free charge carriers can effectively be transferred from ZnO nanoparticles to GO sheets, which can serve as a probe to monitor the electron transfer from excited ZnO to GO. Anchoring ZnO nanoparticles on two dimensional carbon nanostructures such as GO can pave a way towards the design of ordered nanostructure assemblies that can harvest light energy efficiently.

Graphical AbstractUpon irradiating the GO–ZnO sample with a light having an energy equalizing the band gap energy, the photogenerated charge–hole pairs are produced, and have been separated effectively.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights
► A hybrid material of graphene oxide (GO) sheets beaded with ZnO nanoparticles was prepared.
► The ordered nanostructure assemblies can harvest light energy efficiently and the free charge carriers can effectively be transferred from ZnO nanoparticles to GO sheet.
► A hybrid material can serve as a probe to monitor the electron transfer from excited ZnO to GO.