Photodetector-Based Material from a Highly Sensitive Free-Standing Graphene Oxide/Polypyrrole Nanocomposite

Abstract

This paper describes the establishment of free-standing rolled graphene oxide (roll-GO) and polypyrrole (Ppy) using a modified Hummer method and oxidative polymerization. Then, a photodetector was created by removing a thin film of the free-standing rolled graphene oxide from a filter paper and attaching it to a tape. The chemical structure of the roll-GO was confirmed using XRD and FTIR analysis, while SEM and TEM showed that it was rolled in nature. The material had a small bandgap of 2.4 eV and a high current density in light conditions. The photodetector responded well to monochromatic light, with Jph values changing from 0.027 to 0.019 mA/cm2 as the light wavelengths decreased from 340 to 730 nm. The photoresponsivity (R) and detectivity (D) values were high, at 340 nm (0.27 mA/W and 6.0 × 107 Jones, respectively) and at 730 nm (0.19 and 4.25 × 107 Jones, respectively). The addition of Ppy improved these parameters, with the Ppy/roll-GO/tape photoelectrode showing excellent R and D values of 0.33 mA/W and 7.34 × 107 Jones, respectively. Furthermore, the production of a photocurrent at V = 0 indicated that the Ppy/roll-GO layer could be used for solar cell applications. Overall, the results suggest that the prepared free-standing Ppy/roll-GO/tape photodetector has high potential for use in the optical region between 340 and 730 nm and may be suitable for industrial applications.