Synthesis and Photoelectrical Properties of Graphene-CuxO Nanostructures

Abstract

As a promising two-dimensional nanomaterial with outstanding electronic, optical, thermal, and mechanical properties, graphene has been investigated for many applications. In this work, we present a facile route for the integration of graphene with light-sensitive copper oxides for optoelectronic applications. Graphene synthesized by a solvothermal process is found to be a robust substrate on which photoconductive CuxO with a particle size of about 50 nm can be deposited by a simple method. The morphology of graphene and graphene-CuxO is characterized by SEM and TEM. Photoluminescence measurements are also conducted, and the results show that the excited fluorophore in the P3HT backbone is effectively quenched by the electronic interactions at P3HT/graphene interfaces; however, the incorporation of CuxO increases the excited fluorophore. Photoelectrical experiments show that clean, cheap and easily prepared CuxO/graphene has much stronger photo-induced electrical current compared with graphene, thus suggesting a promising candidate for organic photovoltaic applications.