ZnO nanostructures electrodeposited on electrochemically reduced graphene oxide

Abstract

Graphene-ZnO is an interesting combination of optoelectronic materials. The two-dimensional wonder material graphene has many exceptional material properties that improve the quality of ZnO based optoelectronic devices. Single layer graphene although first discovered using the method mechanical exfoliation, graphene oxide is more suitable for large scale applications. Chemical reduction method is most popular in graphene oxide (GO) reduction, but recently discovered electrochemical reduction method having its simplicity and which is free from dealing with hazardous chemicals. In this work we electrodeposit ZnO nanostructures over electrochemically reduced graphene oxide. Electrodeposition of ZnO is also a simple and effective method of depositing different ZnO nanostructures. By combining both electrochemical methods, we are able to fabricate rGO-ZnO heterostructure. The ZnO nanostructures of different morphology can be synthesized on the same sample at different regions. This different morphologies of ZnO can be attributed to nonuniformity or partial reduction of GO.