Synthesis and luminescence of graphene-nano calcium sulphide composite

• G-CaS was synthesized using in situ reduction of calcium salt and graphene oxide.
• Samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, PL, FTIR, XPS, Raman Spectroscopy.
• TEM of GCaS show CaS particles having size less than 50 nm are embedded in graphene.
• G-CaS shows PL emission at 440 nm when excited with 350 nm.
• PL emission intensity in case of G-CaS is lower than CaS but it is luminescent.

Graphene-nanocrystalline calcium sulphide has been synthesized using in-situ reduction of calcium salt and graphene oxide. Graphene oxide was prepared using Hummer's method.Surface morphology and crystal structure of samples were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). Ultra thin graphene and graphene oxide sheets with size ranging between tens to several hundreds of square nanometers are observed in TEM images. The TEM micrographs of G-CaS show that CaS particles are embedded in graphene sheets and the average particle size of CaS particles in the composite is less than 50 nm. The reduction in the intensity of various functional groups in FTIR spectrum also confirms the formation of graphene. The UV-Visible spectra of CaS shows absorption peak at 220 nm with a small shoulder at 250 nm whereas in G-CaS 220 nm absorption peak has reduced intensity and the shoulder at 250 nm has now shifted to 270 nm due to modification in the defect structure of CaS by graphene. CaS and G-CaS shows photoluminescence emission at 470 nm (λexc. = 375 nm) and 440 nm (λexc. = 350 nm) respectively, however emission intensity of G-CaS is relatively lower than CaS. Although the emission intensity is found to be lower than CaS, addition of CaS to graphene in G-CaS complex has made graphene luminescent. XPS spectra also indicate reduction of various oxygen containing functional groups in highly reduced graphene oxide and G-CaS.