PEG–MoS2 Nanocomposite by Laser Ablation: Laser Energy Effects on Structural and Optical Properties for Photodiode Applications

Abstract

In this study, we fabricated a composite of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with molybdenum disulfide (MoS[Formula: see text] using the laser ablation method for the first time, with different energy levels of 100, 300 and 500[Formula: see text]mJ. The structural, optical and thermal properties of the composite were investigated using various characterization techniques. The UV–Vis spectra showed a redshift in the absorption edge with the increase in laser energy. The FTIR spectra indicated the presence of functional groups in both PEG and MoS2, and the characteristic peaks of both components were observed. The refractive index of the composite was found to decrease with an increase in laser energy. TEM images revealed the presence of rod-like and spherical particles with different sizes. The energy gap of the composite was also found to decrease with an increase in laser energy. The high absorption of the composite in the near-visible and visible regions allowed the photodiode to detect light with high sensitivity and accuracy. It is showing that the forward bias current of ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]Amp) is still relatively low and further optimization of the photodiode design and materials could lead to even higher current values and improved performance. These results suggest that the laser energy has a significant effect on the properties of the PEG–MoS2 composite. The obtained results demonstrate that the PEG–MoS2 composite has potential applications in various fields, including solar cells and drug delivery systems.